Cost-saving proposals presented at the Conservative-led council's cabinet meeting on Monday (13 December) suggest reducing provision by 30 per cent as part of a bid to cut overall spending by £43m over three years.
Under the plans, resources would be concentrated on the 70 per cent most deprived areas, and the range of services offered by children's centres would be reduced.
Staff at children's centres in Barnet have been given notice that they may face redundancy.
The council's plan to reduce Sure Start provision follows central Government's removal of ring fencing from local authority budgets (News, 27 October).
Jenny Borst, whose son goes to Newstead Children's Centre, one of the settings under threat, said, 'Closing Newstead would have a massive impact on a lot of parents. It's an excellent centre and my son is very happy there. I don't think the council has any understanding of how difficult it will be for parents to find alternative childcare. There are children at Newstead children's centre who have severe special educational needs and they get a lot of support.'
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