Funding cuts strengthens need to redesign services for children and families

Responding to data published by the Department for Education which shows the funding for Children’s Centres and early years services has been reduced, 4Children Chief Executive Anne Longfield OBE said:

Our analysis of the Department for Education’s data shows an overall 20% spending cut over three years for early years services and Children’s Centres.

“We know that one million families use Children’s Centres and our forthcoming annual national Children’s Centres Census, which will be published in October, is likely to show the majority of Children’s Centres expect to have their budget reduced during the next year either as a result of financial cutbacks or changes in the ways services are commissioned.

“It is vital to ensure existing services for children and families are working in the most cost-effective and efficient way. That's why we are advocating for Children’s Centres to be extended into Children and Family hubs to bring together support and resources in the local area in a holistic and joined-up way. This approach, set out in our manifesto for the next Parliament Making Britain Great for Children and Families, is part of a wider need to redesign services for children and families to deliver early intervention rather than wait until crisis.”

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