Haringey Council, however, has denied that it had plans to privatise therunning of children's centres.
Parents at Stonecroft Children's Centre, one of five children's centresunder consideration for changes, are compiling a petition to defend theprovision.
The Stonecroft centre, which opened in Hornsey in April this year,provides training for childminders and midwife and health services,along with a 55-place nursery.
Sarah Andrews, mother of a three-year-old who attends the nursery, toldNursery World that parents still had not been officially told of theplans. She said, 'It's been a bolt from the blue.'
'We just don't know what will happen to the staff, and if a privateprovider comes in the fees could go up.'
She added, 'A lot of money has gone into making it into a children'scentre with wider links to the community, and it just seems odd todislocate it from the council.'
She said that there had been no prior consultation with the communityand that there was a lot of 'disquiet' about what was happening.
Glyn Rowlands, spokesperson for the Haringey branch of public sectorunion Unison, said, 'The council claims that under the Childcare Actthey have to find other providers. We dispute this. We're very concernedfor the staff and we think the services may suffer.'
He said the plans could affect more than 100 council employees and thatthe majority were Unison members.
He claimed that the council had not consulted parents or health servicesattached to the children's centres.
Haringey council approved a decision to look for other providers at acabinet meeting on 17 July.
In a statement, the council said it was considering 'a number ofoptions' for five local authority children's centres, in line with theGovernment's view that it does not see local authorities as the 'primaryproviders of childcare' and wants all local authorities to work inpartnership.
The council said, 'This work is part of that process. It may be thatestablished voluntary providers and charities can bring expertise andgood practice to build on what is currently in place. Whatever theoutcome, the council will remain responsible for funding and the qualityof the services provided and will continue to own the centres.'
It added that no decision had been made yet and that if any changes wereproposed the council would consult parents, staff and unions.