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Children's services would be cut and as many as 250 Sure Start centres would be closed within a year, a new survey for the Daycar Trusts and 4Children revealed today.

2,000 centres would offer less services while 3,100 would see their budgets shrink, according to 900 centre managers in England.  The charities claim closing down to Sure Start cntres would mean "crucial support" being withdrawn from almost 60,000 families in the country.

"It is inconceivable that we can make the foundation years effective if Sure Start all over the place are being slaughtered," Frank Field the Labour MP, who is also advising the coalition government on life chances said. "Local authorities must seek to employ innovative methods to ensure families – especially the poorest families – do not lose the vital support they need."

Sarah Teather argues that councils were given adequate funding to ensure all Sure Start centres were left open.  But that is not completely acccurate.

The Government has reduced the total Early Intervention Grants by 11% this year but removed the ring fencing allowing councils to use that money as they see fit.  That means there is no requirement for local authorities to keep Sure Start centres. According to the survey, many councils are choosing that option.  

“Behind every Children’s Centre facing closure is a community of families devastated at losing one of their most valued local services," Anand Shukla, acting Chief Executive of the Daycare Trust said. "“The tragedy of these cuts is that the full extent of Sure Start’s impact on children’s development will only be achieved in the long term – and the impending closure of so many Centres means this investment will not now be fully realised.”

Her views were echoed by Anne Longfield, chief Executive of 4 Children that local authorities must see Sure Start centres as investments and seek innovation in solving this problem.

"Voluntary and community organisations stand ready to help councils find innovative solutions to these funding dilemmas," she added.