Exclusive: 400 children's centres at risk across England

Analysis by CYP Now has found that at least 32 local authorities have made proposals to either close, "de-designate", or review the future of children's centres in the last 12 months.

Among them is Hampshire County Council which which plans to keep just 11 of its current 54 children’s centres open as part of a bid to save £8.5m. Meanwhile Essex County Council has announced plans to close 25 children’s centres as part of its overhaul of services for children and families.

In total, at least 400 children's centres across England are at risk as a result of proposals outlined during the 2015/16 financial year. The true figure could be higher because CYP Now was unable to obtain detailed proposals for all councils.

A national network of Sure Start children's centres was first developed under Tony Blair's Labour government, with an initial £540m allocated to the initiative between 1999 and 2002.

By April 2010 there were a total of 3,631 children’s centres in England. But since then the number has been falling as local authorities look to reorganise services and save money to deal with ongoing funding cuts.

The precise number of children's centre closures there has been is hotly contested. Figures published by Labour in November 2013 suggested that, at that point, 578 children’s centres had closed since the coalition government took office.

But, responding to a question in parliament last year, childcare minister Sam Gyimah said that 250 “main” children’s centres had closed as of 30 June 2015.

Michael Pavey, director of campaign group Labour Friends of Sure Start, described the number of children's centres currently at risk as "devastating news".

"Every children's centre provides precious services for families who may have nowhere else to turn," he said.

"It is a disgrace and a tragedy."

The government had said it will launch a consultation on the future of children's centres in the summer. It had been due to launch last autumn but has been delayed.

The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.

List of councils making proposals to close or de-desginate children's centres, and numbers affected:

Barnet Council (2)                           
Barnsley Council (13)                        
Bexley Council (1)                              
Brighton Council (5)
Cheshire West Council (7)
Cheshire East Council (4)
Darlington Council (5)
Derby Council (7)
Derbyshire County Council (32)
Doncaster Council (8)
Enfield Council (4)
Essex County Council (25)
Gloucestershire County Council (23)
Hampshire County Council (43)
Hounslow Council (14)
Lewisham Council (12)
Lincolnshire County Council (15)
Luton Council (6)
North Tyneside Council (4)
Northamptonshire County Council (17)
Oxfordshire County Council (42)
Portsmouth Council (3)
Sutton Council (8)
Swindon Council (5)
Telford & Wrekin Council (12)
Wandsworth Council (2)
West Berkshire Council (4)
Westminster Council (8)
Wiltshire County Council (11)
Wirral Council (13)
Worcestershire County Council (36)
York Council (9)