Ealing Council To Close Two Children's Centres
Eleven others will face severe budget cuts as savings sought
West Twyford Centre attended by Sally Abdel-Salam and her child reprieved
Two of Ealing’s children’s centres will close and another 11 will have to get by on a budget cut by nearly a quarter as the council seeks to save £808,000.
The two centres set to close are Wood End and North Ealing, which together are the smallest centres in the borough.
Deputy council leader Yvonne Johnson said the savings were essential against a background of government funding cuts, which have seen money from central government fall 64 per cent in a decade, meaning for every £1 they now get 36p.
Ealing currently has 27 children’s centres, and from April 2020, services will stay the same at its seven main centres at Islip Manor, South Acton, Hanwell, Grove House, Perivale, Log Cabin and Academy Gardens.
Nine smaller linked sites will keep their existing services, including Grange, Greenfields, Hathaway, John Perryn, Limetrees, Maples, Petts Hill, Southall Park and St John’s.
The 11 remaining sites will face budget cuts of 24 per cent.
With additional funding from the NHS and other stakeholders, the council say they were able to save more services than originally expected.
The council said despite the cuts, the number of places at childhood centres would remain the same overall.
A council spokeswoman said:, “The level of midwifery, health visitor and other specialist support services, including services for children with additional needs, will also be unaffected.”
The council’s cabinet agreed to the new measures at a meeting on July 16.
West Twyford, which featured in a previous story on this site, will remain open.
In a letter to parents, headteacher Rachel Martin said it was “wonderful news” that the centre had been saved.
Parents previously spoke about how the centre was an escape from isolation, and a lifeline for parents and their children.
The letter said: “Although there will be a cut to our budget and we will need to find ways to generate more money, and make further savings, the important thing is that the Children’s Centre has been saved.”
Gedd Cann – Local Democracy Reporter
Ged Cann - Local Democracy Reporter
July 26, 2019