We believe that the proposal to close 9 Children Centres and convert 8 Children Centres into ‘family hubs’ is wilful neglect of the most important asset this city has for future prosperity and security – Coventry’s children. Removing nursery provision from all Children Centres will place children at greater disadvantage and will increase inequality and social immobility. There is no guarantee that private providers will take over nursery provision in Children Centres. Ofsted has found the provision at these Children Centres to be outstanding. We are not assured that privatisation of these public services will offer the same quality of nurturing for children and parents. Children Centres provide access to multiple support services for parents and children. The proposal gives little detail over what services the ‘family hubs’ will deliver, where they will be delivered, who will deliver them and how services delivered by the council, NHS and the private sector will be integrated. The provision of services for areas of highest needs will leave gaps in service provision, contrary to the council's early intervention strategy.
We call on the council to abandon these proposals, use its considerable financial reserves to continue to support these services and actively campaign with the citizens of Coventry to demand full funding of these public services from central government.