Some families may not be able to access help after the cash-strapped council agreed to slash services at several children’s centres to save more than £1m per year.
The centres, which were the brainchild of the last Labour government, were set up to support families with health facilities, child care and early learning and parenting advice in every community.
But Labour-controlled Cheshire West and Chester Council says the only way to retain all 15 children’s centres is to maintain the full range of services at eight key centres but reduce services at seven ‘linked’ centres.
Main centres will include Blacon, Lache, Ellesmere Port and Frodsham.
Linked centres with fewer services will include Chester Victoria in Cheyney Road linked to Blacon, Kingsway linked to Lache, Chester Rural at Elton linked to Frodsham and Neston linked to Stanlaw Abbey in Ellesmere Port.
An options appraisal states under ‘drawbacks’: “This option may mean that some service users have to travel further to access services or therefore choose not to access services. However, ensuring access to children’s centre services, particularly for more vulnerable and isolated families, is a key national and local performance indicator which any new provider would be measured against rigorously by the council.”
The council is also moving to an integrated service delivery model for 0-19 years rather than having services targeted at age groups 0-5 and 5-19 years as now.
CWaC is holding a market engagement exercise in a bid to attract an external company to run the revised service.
Cllr Nicole Meardon, cabinet member for children and families, said: “This approach will allow us to deliver an innovative and ambitious service for 0-19 year-olds which I am confident will greatly improve outcomes for our children and families in West Cheshire.
“Our first priority in our Council Plan - Helping the Borough to Thrive - is to ensure our children, families and young people get the best start in life. This new integrated single service will be developed as a Starting Well Service and will allow us to deliver an inclusive service for 0-19 year olds.
“We will work flexibly with schools, health and early years education and child care partnerships. Aligning health visiting, school nursing and children’s centre services will ensure a seamless transition between ages and stages of development.
“For example, children will be supported to help them develop well and be ready for school. This will lead to young people developing the right skills to access employment and further education in the future.”
Cllr Margaret Parker, shadow cabinet member for children and families, provided cross-party agreement by adding: “This is an excellent and ground-breaking approach that will ensure a more cohesive service for children and families. This will place West Cheshire at the forefront of innovation for children’s services.”
Cuts to local government funding has meant many children centres have closed across the country including five in Cheshire West under the previous Tory administration at CWaC where 2,800 youngsters were registered.
Axed centres included Cherry Grove, Boughton, a Tarvin-based centre serving the rural area, including Malpas and Farndon, and the Woodlands centre in Ellesmere Port.
