The government is legislating to ensure children's centres are here to stay, but professionals in the sector are already concerned about future funding. Ringfenced money for the centres will end next year, and although the government is committed to funding children's centres in the long-term, there can be no guarantees on the level of financial support until the next Comprehensive Spending Review. So, what should local authorities and children's centres be doing in a bid to prepare for life after 2010?
The message from key figures within the sector is to start thinking about it now. "Local authorities cannot start planning funding soon enough," says Anne Longfield, chief executive of charity 4Children. She believes it is essential that children's centres look to reach beyond early years services and into the community, such as improvements in health and crime prevention. This should open up more funding options in the process, so centres are not reliant on the ringfenced money that currently comes through the Sure Start Early Years and Childcare Grant.
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