Cuts battle over £80-per-child loss for support centres

Deprived areas will be hardest hit by cuts to funding for services like Sure Start and childcare, according to new figures released by Shadow Education Secretary Andy Burnham.

But the Government defended cuts to the Early Intervention Grant and insisted Sure Start – which offers support and facilities for parents and families at children’s centres – was a “key priority”. Ministers insist they have provided enough funding for centres to remain open because they are giving councils more freedom over how budgets are used.

Mr Burnham accused David Cameron of breaking a pre-election promise to defend the children’s centres after releasing the figures which show North East Lincolnshire Council is losing £80 per child in funding through the grant this year, while Hull, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham will each lose £70 per head.

In wealthier areas such as Richmond, Buckinghamshire, Wokingham and Surrey – which received less cash support in the first place – the cuts will only be £30 per child.

Mr Burnham said: “The Prime Minister made a personal promise to protect and build on Sure Start. Now we know that these were just hollow words and yet another broken promise to the families of our country.”

But last night former Labour Minister Frank Field, a former welfare reform Minister who has advised Mr Cameron on poverty and life chances, said some Sure Start services may have to be scaled back to protect the universal nature of the network.

He suggested that such services should concentrate on poor families who need them most rather than so-called “pushy parents” with “sharp elbows”.

In recent years the number of centres, initially aimed at the poorest, has hit 3,600, sparking questions over whether they are needed in better off areas. In the House of Commons last night, Beverley and Holderness Tory MP Graham Stuart urged both parties to spell out whether every centre should be defended.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “We want taxpayers’ money to be targeted at the children and young people who need it most. That’s why we’ve given local authorities freedom over their budgets so that they can ensure services reach vulnerable children and families in their areas, instead of tying their hands with central diktats, programmes and funding streams.

“We have ensured local authorities have enough money to maintain the network of Sure Start Children’s Centres.”