More than 1,000 Children’s Centres closed over the last decade

Official figures show that 1,342 children’s centres have closed over the last decade. The number of full children’s centres dropped from 3,615 in 2010 to just 2,773 last year, according to analysis of figures revealed by children’s minister Will Quince in parliament this week. The Conservative MP for Colchester supplied the figures in response to a question on children’s centre numbers from shadow early years minister, Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood Helen Hayes. The figures relate to full children’s centres as well as sites which offer some children’s centre services. Analysis of the figures by the Early Years Alliance shows that the number of full children’s centres in each area has been cut by more than a third on average. Read more.