Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut

Sixty thousand families have been betrayed by David Cameron as a new survey indicates that 250 Sure Start centres will close over the next 12 months. The findings undermine key promises before and after the general election by David Cameron and Michael Gove.

David-Cameron-Sure-Start-Centre As widely reported this morning, a new survey of close to 1,000 Sure Start Children’s Centre Managers across England – carried out by 4Children and Daycare Trust – reveals that:

• 250 (7%) will close or are expected to close, affecting an estimated 60,000 families

• 2,000 (56%) will provide a reduced service

• 3,100 (86%) will have a decreased budget

• Staff at 1,000 centres (28%) have been issued with ‘at risk of redundancy’ notices

The findings are a slap in the face for many local authorities who were told by Education Secretary, Michael Gove, as recently as December:

“We have additionally ensured that there is enough money in the EIG [Early Intervention Grant] to maintain the existing network of Sure Start Children’s Centres”

On the eve of the general election, David Cameron was asked for a guarantee that Sure Start centres would continue to receive funding. In response, the Tory leader said:

“Yes, we back Sure Start. It’s a disgrace that Gordon Brown has been trying to frighten people about this. He’s the Prime Minister of this country but he’s been scaring people about something that really matters.”

Responding to the same question, Nick Clegg said:

“Yes. Sure Start is a really important programme that has made a real difference to millions of parents. Difficult decisions are going to have to be made in public spending, but Sure Start is one of the best things the last government has done and I want all these centres to stay open.”

Anand Shukla, acting Chief Executive of Daycare Trust said: “Behind every Children’s Centre facing closure is a community of families devastated at losing one of their most valued local services.” Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive of 4Children said: “Families across the country, particularly the most vulnerable, depend on Sure Start Children’s Centres to help get their children off to the best start in life.” Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education, said:

“David Cameron made a personal promise to protect and build on Sure Start. Today we learn that these were just hollow words and yet another broken promise to the families of our country. By asking children and families to bear the brunt of their cuts, this Tory-led Government is showing that they have no idea what pressure ordinary families are under.

The survey of Children’s Centre Managers took place between January 20th and 25th following an email to Centre Managers listed on the Family Information Service (FIS) / Directgov database. A total of 917 Children’s Centre Managers took part in the survey using surveymonkey.com. Figures were then extrapolated to understand the impact the results would have for the 3,578 Centres across England. The 60,000 figure was based on a conservative average of 244 families using each Centre. 32% of survey respondents said their Centre catered for 150+ families; a further 52% said it was 300+.

http://twitter.com/nhsspy/status/30909344136568832 Watching You

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/kreepingskorl/status/30909393407053824 Adam Young

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/gatesheadgreens/status/30909399807561728 Gateshead GreenParty

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/vikchechi/status/30909749134360576 Vik Chechi

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/richard_horton/status/30909825277759488 Richard Horton

RT @leftfootfwd Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/alisonbeech/status/30909938570108929 Alison Beech

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/americanliberal/status/30910213506732032 American Liberal

Austerity uber-alles #P2 // RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/hens4freedom/status/30911050782081024 Hens4Freedom

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/hannah_chutzpah/status/30911566975074304 Hannah Chutzpah

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/mr_onions/status/30912278123511808 Richard Johnson

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/sohopolitico/status/30913067818684416 Soho Politico

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/stevibaldi/status/30913356567150592 steve conway

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/bernardandpaul/status/30913684582694912 Bernard and Paul

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/fYxEom
http://twitter.com/philcovers/status/30914298473611264 Christopher Phillips

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/boredlondongurl/status/30915349226463232 Bored London Gurl

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/dave_lew/status/30915928887660544 Dave Lewis

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/stevebuss71/status/30916432623570945 Steven Buss

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/jordanbhall/status/30916706524205056 Jordan Hall

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/westernshores/status/30919493031043072 Pen

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://eoin-clarke.blogspot.com/ Éoin Clarke

What an absolutely gut wrenching piece of news. I had placed really high hopes these would be unaffected. Young women wishing to educate themselves or take up a goo djob where you are expected to be flexible will be traumatised by this news. IT really helped single mothers, or immigrant women whose husbands often have to travel long distances to take up casual employment or irregular hours.

Broken Britain? This is precisely the type of politicking that will break Britain.
http://twitter.com/_markmccormack/status/30921544486092801 Mark McCormack

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/gmg1106/status/30922034552774656 Graham Galloway

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/debbieandrioli/status/30922379651719168 Debbie

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/goosefat101/status/30923453896851456 Dave Pickering

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/annapannalondon/status/30926905196675072 Anna Nolan

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/alexsmith1982/status/30930781127843841 alexsmith1982

Worrying news // RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/ladynottramp/status/30930900854251520 Jane Barrett

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/schooltruth/status/30931334247489536 Fiona Millar

RT @alexsmith1982: Worrying news // RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
dave e

I’m a supporter of charity Home Start who do a fantastic job in supporting families. A Government minister way back liked what Home-Start did and created Sure Start using lots of Govt funding. Unfortunately instead of engaging and working in partnership (whilst funding also) with exisiting charitable service providers Sure Start wanted it all for themselves duplicating exisiting services. As a consequence regional Home-Start (amongst others)trying to survive on charitable funding were unable to continue their good work.
Sure Start failed to engage hard to reach, socially excluded families so for me, stop funding expensive Sure Start and fund those charities instead.
http://twitter.com/unitonehifi/status/30943750393954304 chris star

Cameron betrays 60,000 families
As 250 Sure Start centres set to shut
http://j.mp/hLcGuh
#ukuncut #demo2011
http://twitter.com/double_karma/status/30946412636151808 Double.Karma

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/rockythehamster/status/30947568984784896 Rocky Hamster

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/fYxEom – another broken promise!
http://twitter.com/zuffle/status/30954791936983040 Ben

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/fYxEom
http://twitter.com/se_kip/status/30966466866057216 Sean Kippin

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/spikeisland100/status/30975741495615488 Paul Krishnamurty

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/moniesoffun/status/30980770302533632 Nick Robertson

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/iiLWcR
http://twitter.com/wyreforestlab/status/31004148992311296 Wyre Forest Labour

250 SureStart centres set to close? http://bit.ly/hwFvlt
http://twitter.com/carolynanderson/status/31009572206411776 Carolyn Anderson

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/fYxEom
http://twitter.com/psbook/status/31010286601240576 Political Scrapbook

60,000 families affected by closure of 250 Sure Start centres, writes @wdjstraw http://bit.ly/gudTyR
http://twitter.com/curvaspoliticas/status/31010550859169792 Montserrat Nicolas

Cameron/LibDems: 60,000 families affected by closure of 250 Sure Start centres, writes @wdjstraw http://bit.ly/gudTyR
http://twitter.com/marat1789/status/31010787199815680 Marat1789

RT @psbook: 60,000 families affected by closure of 250 Sure Start centres, writes @wdjstraw http://bit.ly/gudTyR
http://twitter.com/stevebuss71/status/31010989390430208 Steven Buss

RT @psbook: 60,000 families affected by closure of 250 Sure Start centres, writes @wdjstraw http://bit.ly/gudTyR
http://twitter.com/marcusaroberts/status/31011001977544704 Marcus A. Roberts

RT @psbook: 60,000 families affected by closure of 250 Sure Start centres, writes @wdjstraw http://bit.ly/gudTyR
http://twitter.com/charmedlassie/status/31011179363045377 Lucy Brown

RT @psbook: 60,000 families affected by closure of 250 Sure Start centres, writes @wdjstraw http://bit.ly/gudTyR
http://twitter.com/rogofe47/status/31011547182530560 rodrigo gonzalez fer

RT @Curvaspoliticas: Cameron/LibDems: 60,000 families affected by closure of 250 Sure Start centres, writes @wdjstraw http://bit.ly/gudTyR
http://twitter.com/rickmuir1/status/31038176936075264 Rick Muir

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut http://bit.ly/fYxEom
Mr. Sensible

What another broken promice by this government? Stop press!
http://twitter.com/theelectionblog/status/31465341804613632 The Election Blog

No real surprise, before election Cameron said that Sure Start would not be cut and now 250 centres will close: http://goo.gl/33HIk
http://www.catch21.co.uk/2011/01/sure-start-cuts-come-on-cameron-youve-got-to-stop-somewhere Sure-start cuts: come on Cameron, you’ve got to stop somewhere | Catch21 Productions

[...] this week, as we learn that up to 250 centres are going to be closed, withdrawing services from 60000 families. The purpose of Sure Start is reasonably self explanatory: its to help give kids living in the UK a [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/02/cameron-sure-start-budget-going-up-the-reality-sure-start-is-under-threat/ Cameron: Sure Start budget “going up”; The reality? It’s under threat | Left Foot Forward

[...] at Prime Minister’s Questions today, citing research from the Daycare Trust which warned 250 Sure Start centres face the axe; however, the prime minister insisted the Sure Start budget was “going up” from £2,212 [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/03/special-educational-needs-green-paper/ Cautious optimism over the Special Educational Needs green paper | Left Foot Forward

[...] intervention – but, as Left Foot Forward has shown, Sure Start Centres across the country are facing closure as a result of local government [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/07/david-cameron-broken-promise-31-sure-start-centres-closed/ Another broken Tory promise: 31 Sure Start centres have already closed | Left Foot Forward

[...] also: • Cameron betrays 60,000 families as 250 Sure Start centres set to shut – Will Straw, January 28 2011 Share | Permalink | Comments: 11 Comments > [...]
http://twitter.com/shamikdas/status/125933902090084352 Shamik Das

@alexhern @trouse11 Sure Start – that cd b the headline story. http://t.co/RbF5zshg http://t.co/3pEmVzle http://t.co/yhDmQJiR