Government accused of failing to monitor cuts to children's centres

An initial £540m was handed to local authorities to establish a national network of Sure Start children's centres between 1999 and 2002.

As part of the funding arrangements, local authorities are required to notify the DfE of proposals to “dispose of or change the use of buildings or assets funded wholly or partly through Sure Start capital grants”, and must provide details of the level of early years services that will continue.

If a council is deemed not to be providing a sufficient level of early years services they are required to pay money back to the department - so-called "clawback". But last week it emerged that only three councils have been penalised under the system, amounting to a total of just £125,000.

Concerns have been raised that this figure is not representative of the reality of cuts to children’s centre services and the government is failing to effectively monitor the situation.

Denise Burke, chair of Poppy and Jacks nursery group, said the £125,000 repayment is “an insignificant amount of money in the grand scheme of things”.

“The clawback [of £125,000] certainly doesn't reflect the true picture," she said.

"Far more children's centres and services have been closed, so you'd think the clawback from local authorities would be a much greater amount,” she said.

“Either the DfE is not monitoring local authority spend well enough, or it is sweeping the seriousness of the situation under the carpet.”

Last month, CYP Now revealed that the number of children’s centres that have been closed or downgraded since 2010 has exceeded the 1,000 mark. A further 400 children's centres are at risk of closure or being downgraded as a result of proposals made by local authorities in the past 12 months.

Jenny Chapman, shadow education minister, said the clawback arrangements are not working, and has called for children's centres funding to be protected.

"These clawback arrangements are intended to protect the taxpayers’ investment in young families, she said.