Petitioning City Hall - Parents fear ‘sneaky’ cuts to children’s daycare centres

Published: 25 February 2011
by JOSH LOEB

PARENTS and teachers are petitioning City Hall against “sneaky” cuts to children’s centres.

Westminster Council says it has been forced by central government to slash funding to Sure Start centres, which offer subsidised daycare for children below primary school age. They also provide specialist services like speech therapy.

Staff fear resources will be stretched to the limit and parents say this could have a knock-on effect on their ability to find work.

At a meeting at the Mary Paterson Nursery School in Queen’s Park this week, Harrow Road Children’s Centre manager Sylvie Gambell said vulnerable families would be the worst hit.

She added: “Staff are trying their best but will never have the funds to keep this service going as it should be.”

Teacher Rosalind Randell said: “It just seems so sneaky. Schools they can’t cut without everyone knowing what they’re doing, but with Sure Start you only know how good it is if you’ve got children.”

Mother Mirela Sestanovic added: “Parents rely on the centres for advice and as a safe place where their children can play while they access training.”

Council chiefs have promised that, despite reductions in staff, all 12 children’s centres in Westminster will remain open – but Westminster Labour leader Paul Dimoldenberg criticised the plans.

He said: “These are short-sighted cuts from a council that knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing.”

Parents’ groups have invited all residents of north Westminster wards to attend a meeting about the proposals at the 

Stowe Centre, 258 Harrow Road, W2, at 10am on March 1.