This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/education-12940355

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mothers take Sure Start cuts fight to Downing Street Mothers take Sure Start cuts fight to Downing Street
(about 9 hours later)
By Hannah Richardson BBC News education reporterBy Hannah Richardson BBC News education reporter
A group of women are using Mother's Day to take their campaign against cuts to Sure Start Children's Centres to Downing Street. A group of women have used Mother's Day to take their campaign against cuts to Sure Start Children's Centres to Downing Street.
Five mothers and their toddlers from local campaigns across England will take a 50,000-name petition against cuts and closures of the centres. Mothers and their toddlers from local campaigns across England have handed in a 50,000-name petition against cuts and closures of the centres.
Daycare Trust research suggests up to 86% of centres are facing budget cuts and that up to 250 may close in 2011.Daycare Trust research suggests up to 86% of centres are facing budget cuts and that up to 250 may close in 2011.
But ministers say there is enough money in the system to retain the centres.But ministers say there is enough money in the system to retain the centres.
They want to refocus the centres to help more disadvantaged families with health visitors picking up some of their early intervention work. They want to refocus the centres to help more disadvantaged families, with health visitors picking up some of their early intervention work.
Nursery rhymesNursery rhymes
Sure Start Children's Centres are being cut in some places because the grant which funds them was cut by 11% in the emergency budget, and again in the comprehensive spending review by almost the same percentage. The Downing Street event has been organised by mothers Louise King and Ruth Hardcastle, who formed the No Cuts for Kids campaign in response to the cuts.
Then the government removed the protection from the Sure Start budget. This has left them vulnerable as councils sought to make up losses to their central government grants overall. Sure Start Children's Centres are being cut in some places because the grant which funds them was cut by 11% in last year's emergency budget, and again in the comprehensive spending review by almost the same percentage.
As local authorities have set out their plans to reduce budgets local campaigns have sprung up from parents anxious about losing the services and help they offer to them and their children. Then the government removed the protection from the Sure Start budget. This has left them vulnerable as councils seek to make up losses to their central government grants overall.
Campaigns represented on Sunday include mothers from Lambeth, Hampshire, Manchester, Camden, Stoke, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kirklees and Derby. As local authorities have set out their plans to reduce budgets, local campaigns have sprung up from parents anxious about losing the services and help they offer to them and their children.
They intend to sing nursery rhymes and do some face painting after handing their petition in to Number 10. Campaigns represented on Sunday included mothers from Lambeth, Hampshire, Manchester, Camden, Stoke, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kirklees and Derby who collected signatures online and on paper.
Organiser of the Mother's Day event Louise King said: "On the day the nation's thoughts turn to mothers and the job they do, we wanted to highlight the devastating impact that these cuts are having on mums and kids everywhere. After handing their petition in to Number 10, some 30 parents and their children sang nursery rhymes and painted faces.
Organiser Ms King said: "On the day the nation's thoughts turn to mothers and the job they do, we wanted to highlight the devastating impact that these cuts are having on mums and kids everywhere.
"Sure Start Children's Centres are a great leveller in our society. Kids from all walks of life mix and learn together."Sure Start Children's Centres are a great leveller in our society. Kids from all walks of life mix and learn together.
"Parents can further their education and gain vital support. Take them away or force them to make cutbacks, and we'll see the next generation really suffer.""Parents can further their education and gain vital support. Take them away or force them to make cutbacks, and we'll see the next generation really suffer."
The campaign also has the backing of childcare charity Daycare Trust and online parenting website Netmums.
'Bottle of bleach''Bottle of bleach'
Shadow children's minister Sharon Hodgson, who will be joining the mothers in Downing Street on Sunday, called for the government to reinstate the ringfence to the Sure Start budget. Shadow children's minister Sharon Hodgson called for the government to reinstate the ringfence to the Sure Start budget.
She said she knew of some centres that were seeing their budgets reduced from £450,000 to £19,000 a year but still being called Children's Centres.She said she knew of some centres that were seeing their budgets reduced from £450,000 to £19,000 a year but still being called Children's Centres.
"This is not enough to fund a children's centre, it would only fund a caretaker and bottle of bleach," she added."This is not enough to fund a children's centre, it would only fund a caretaker and bottle of bleach," she added.
A Department for Education spokesman said: "We have ensured there is enough money in the system to maintain a network of Sure Start Children's Centres, and provided new investment for health visitors.A Department for Education spokesman said: "We have ensured there is enough money in the system to maintain a network of Sure Start Children's Centres, and provided new investment for health visitors.
"Local authorities have a legal duty to provide sufficient children's centre provision for the families in their areas and must consult local communities properly before closing or changing children's centres."Local authorities have a legal duty to provide sufficient children's centre provision for the families in their areas and must consult local communities properly before closing or changing children's centres.
"Good local authorities are restructuring with care and making sensible changes - for example through 'clustering' of centres - so they can continue to provide much needed services for families but in a more efficient way." "Good local authorities are restructuring with care and making sensible changes - for example through 'clustering' of centres - so they can continue to provide much-needed services for families, but in a more efficient way."