AN EDUCATION expert has told how shutting children’s centres could have a knock-on effect for youngsters when they start school.

Patrick Lowe, chairman of Brighton and Hove Governors’ Association, said it was extremely important children developed skills such as reading, life skills and communication skills at an early stage before attending school.

He said the children’s centres and related services which are under threat help encourage learning and give children a good base for school.

Mr Lowe, who is also chairman of governors at Coldean Primary School and holds a number of other positions on national and regional boards, made the comments as he pledged to back The Argus Save Our Centres campaign.

Mr Lowe said: “Early development of any skills and activities will offer a great benefit for a child’s next step.

“One of the challenges facing teachers is raising a child’s level of skill to a good standard when they join school.”

This week, The Argus called on Brighton and Hove City Council to reconsider cuts it is proposing for children’s centres and their related services.

The campaign is asking the council to reconsider its plans to save almost £800,000 by closing children’s centres.

Baby groups could also be shut down, staff could be laid off and other care, such as health visits, could be reduced.

Mr Lowe called for a “common sense” solution to keep the vital services.

He said: “The children are our future and the tremendous support these services provide, if taken away, could also have further implications.”

Mr Lowe is standing as a UKIP candidate for Brighton and Hove City Council in Moulsecoomb and Bevendean ward, but said this campaign is about children and not politics. The Argus has received a huge amount of feedback since the launch on Wednesday, and will continue to publish a number of articles looking at all aspects of the services and solutions to avoid the cuts.

Nancy Platts, Labour parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown, has backed the campaign.

She once worked at the childcare charity Daycare Trust and campaigned for Sure Start Children’s Centres to be introduced in every community.

She said she was “heartbroken” to hear of the proposals.

Clarence Mitchell, the Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Brighton Pavilion, also pledged his support.

He said: “Two of the centres fall within the boundaries of Brighton Pavilion.  This will have a serious impact on residents here, including new parents and very young children.  I accept that these are tough times, and the council is operating in a climate of budgetary constraints.  However, there is cross-party agreement this is not the right area in which to make savings.  I am delighted to support The Argus’ ‘Save Our Centres’ campaign, and hope the council changes its mind on this issue."

A council consultation on the proposals closes on Monday.

A total of 30 parents gathered in a private meeting at the Brighthelm Centre yesterday to discuss the impact of the cuts.

Why we are fighting cuts to children’s services

COUNCIL officers are looking to hack back the number of children’s centres from 12 to eight in a bid to save £779,000.

If approved, tens of thousands of families would be affected.

The centres at risk are City View in Elm Grove, Cornerstone in Church Road, Hollingbury, Patcham in County Oak Avenue, and West Hove in Portland Road.

Baby groups which meet in libraries could be shut down and the equivalent of 11.5 full-time posts could be axed.

Funding for the Early Childhood Project and the Brighton Unemployed Centre voluntary groups could be halved.

The number of health visits could be cut back and attendance could be restricted to time limits and by appointment only.

But parents see the centres and their services as a crucial lifeline. So The Argus is urging the council toseriously rethink the plans and find another alternative.

In articles in the coming weeks, we will look into the services provided, how they affect families, and how the cuts could be avoided.

Join the campaign

Visit any story about children’s centre cuts at theargus.co.uk/saveourcentres to click straight through to the council survey and petition.