Eight children's centres set to be ditched in Doncaster

Doncaster Council has confirmed to CYP Now that some centres are earmarked for “de-designation” as part of the 2016/17 budget-setting process.

Children’s centres that are de-designated are no longer officially recognised as a children’s centre but may still provide some services for parents and children.

“It is proposed to de-designate eight children centres, however, this does not mean that the centres will be closing,” a spokesman for the council said.

“Services to children and young people will continue to be delivered from these buildings by various providers and according to locality needs.”

There are currently 20 designated children’s centres in Doncaster, meaning the de-designation of eight centres will represent a 40 per cent reduction.

Support and social services for children in Doncaster, except for education and learning, were transferred to an independent trust in October 2014, but responsibility for children's centres remained with Doncaster Council.

Confirmation of the planned changes comes just months after services provided by the trust and the council were judged by regulator Ofsted to be “inadequate”.

A series of weaknesses, including the quality of early help services, were identified. Inspectors said that too many children and young people whose needs could be met at a lower level are referred for statutory services.

Numerous councils are currently pushing through plans to either close or “de-designate” children’s centres as they attempt to deal with reductions in funding from central government.

Last year it emerged that the pace of children’s centres closures is quickening. Figures released in parliament by government minister Sam Gyimah show that in the first six months of 2015, there were more closures of children's centres than for the whole of 2014.

This article has been amended to clarify that Doncaster Council, not Doncaster Children's Services Trust, is responsible for children's centres in the town.