Save Our Children's Centres

Reading Borough Council has announced a consultation on closing 9 of its 13 children’s centres.

In North Reading they propose to close both children's centres:  North Reading Children’s Centre in Emmer Green and Caversham Children’s Centre.

Reading Borough Council's proposal to remodel children's centres shows that 28% more children attend North Reading children's centres (1335 children age 0-4), than South Reading children's centres (956 children age 0-4), yet they propose for South Reading to keep one of two existing centres and for North Reading to lose both.

It is unreasonable to suggest that 5097 children age 0-4 years old from East and North Reading should attend one children's centre in Cemetery Junction. It is unreasonable to ask families from North Reading to travel across the Thames to East Reading to access a children's centre.

Children's centres are not only vital support for young children they are also a lifeline for their primary caregivers, the majority of whom are women. Some female caregivers suffer from post-natal depression, or isolation, depression, anxiety and need the help they can access at children's centres.

If you oppose the closure of children's centres in Reading please sign this petition.

We are asking the Council to keep Children’s Centres open and at least one in North Reading.

Please join a meeting as part of the Council's consultation

There are five 2 hour meetings being held at children's centres at the following dates and times:

Southcote Children’s Centre
Tuesday 24 January 2017 10am - 12pm

Ranikhet Children’s Centre
Friday 10 February 2017 11.30am - 1.30pm

Surestart Whitley Children’s Centre
Thursday 16 February 2017 10am-12pm

Caversham Children’s Centre
Monday 20 February 2017 10am - 12pm

Katesgrove Children’s Centre
Wednesday 1 March 2017 10am - 12pm

Respond to the council's consultation online by the 29th March 2017 at https://consult.reading.gov.uk/css/childrenscentres/ 

Join the North Reading children's centres campaign group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SaveNRDGchildrenscentres/

Join the Hamilton Road children's centre campaign group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1817738051813606/

What Are Children's Centres?

At children's centres families with young children (aged from 0-5) can access childcare, early education, health and family support services. The staff work with parents-to-be, parents/carers and children. The purpose of a Children's Centre is to ensure young children get the best start in life and that their families are supported to help them achieve this. Most activities are either free, suggested donation based or have a small charge. Activities support children to be ready for school / nursery and are often named; Stay and Play, Messy Play, Story time, Rhyme time, Art and Craft sessions. There are also physical activity groups run by private providers and
New Baby support groups.

The full list of children’s centres to be closed are as follows:

Hamilton Road Children’s Centre
Katesgrove Children’s Centre
North Reading Children’s Centre
Caversham Children’s Centre and Nursery School
Blagrave Children’s Centre
Coley Children’s Centre
Norcot Children’s Centre
Oxford Road Children’s Centre
Blagdon Nursery and Children’s Centre 

The remaining hub children’s centres would be:

Sun Street Youth and Community Building
Southcote Youth and Community Building and Children Centre
Ranikhet Children’s Centre
Whitley Youth Centre 

It is important to note:

Norcot Early Years Centre is un-affected by this proposal would remain as a vital Nursery School and childcare provision for local families
Caversham Children’s Centre and Nursery School would remain as a vital Nursery School and childcare facility for local families
Blagrave Nursery school is un-affected by this proposal and will remain as a vital Nursery School for local families
Blagdon Nursery would remain as a vital Nursery
Satellite buildings, whilst no longer children’s centres, would deliver some universal and targeted services. These are proposed for Caversham Children’s Centre and Nursery School, Coley Children’s Centre at St Mary and All Saints and Battle Library or perhaps Civitas School
Community venues would also be used to deliver services on a temporary basis where there is demand from locations such as Emmer Green Community Centre, Tilehurst Library, Hexham Road Community Centre, etc.