Sidley and Pebsham children's centres to merge in county plan

East Sussex County Council’s Cabinet approved a plan to merge the management of four pairs of Children’s Centres, including Pebsham and Sidley as a pair, following consultation with family users of the centres. But the plan will not mean a cut in service, the county council says.

The proposals are designed to ensure those services for families are provided as effectively as possible with resources targeted at the delivery of services rather than management costs. Out of a total of 35 discrete centres across the county the management of four pairs of centres will be merged.

Director of children’s services, Matt Dunkley, told the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the proposals were about merging the management of the centres, not ending the service or closing the centres.

Most of the centres that will be merged with others are small centres not capable of providing the full range of services we need them to. However, those smaller centres will continue to be used as satellite centres providing services for children and families.

Cllr Nick Bennett, the council’s lead member for learning and school effectiveness, said: “This is really about making sure all our separately designated centres are fit for purpose, are in the right place, and can all really provide the best range and quality of facilities and services for young families. At the moment we have a number that cannot do that.

“All families who currently receive services from our children’s centres will continue to do so, and the vast majority of centres will not be affected in any way by these proposals”.

The centre in Pebsham is a not a separate children’s centre building but a former classroom at Pebsham School used to provide some children’s centre services. The room would no longer be classed as a children’s centre but it is likely that it would continue to be used for some children’s centre services, community purposes and by the school.

No staff will lose their jobs as a result of the proposed changes but a number of management posts will not have to be filled.

Cllr Bennett said: “I would like to repeat what I said when we first published these proposals and stress that these are not cuts to services. These proposals are about using our children’s centre buildings more efficiently and effectively.”