Report due on Warwickshire children centres

During the nine-week consultation run by the county council, some 1,575 responses to a survey were received, while 51 postings were made online and 37 comments submitted by email. More than 300 people also attended consultation meetings over the summer.

The proposals come as the county council aims to slash £2.3 million from its children’s centres budget.

The council wants to introduce a new ‘Early Years’ offer, which a spokesman said “puts forward new ways for children’s centres to provide support services for under-fives and their families to make sure all children get the best start in life by targeting resources to families with specific and enhanced needs, while maintaining a range of services for all families”.

The consultation asked people to consider this offer along with proposals to make savings by changing the way some centres are managed and operated.

After council officials have analysed the responses to the consultation, the final proposals will be presented to the council’s cabinet committee next month.

In August, the council’s children and young people’s overview and scrutiny committee heard personal accounts from parents and the views of experts on the proposals. Recommendations arising from this meeting will also be included in the report next month. To find out more, email [email protected]