Today, staff attended a meeting with South Tyneside Council regarding the future of the Stanley Centres.
We understand that proposals have now been presented which would see all 10 Stanley Centres across South Tyneside close by July 2027.
Staff have been informed that:
- Nursery Assistant roles are proposed to end by December 2026.
- Nursery Officer and Manager roles are proposed to end by July 2027.
- Up to 150 jobs to be affected.
- A 45-day staff consultation period is expected to take place due to the scale of the proposed redundancies.
The Stanley Centres have supported generations of children and families across South Tyneside. They provide trusted early years education, childcare, family support, and specialist knowledge that cannot simply be replaced overnight.
Many parents are deeply concerned about:
- The impact on children’s early years development.
- The availability of alternative childcare places.
- The impact on working families.
- The loss of experienced early years professionals.
- The effect on vulnerable children and families who rely on these services.
At present, parents have not been offered a public consultation on the future of the Stanley Centres. We believe families who use these services deserve to have their voices heard before any final decision is made.
Over the coming weeks we will be asking parents, carers, grandparents, former users, and local residents to continue supporting this campaign.
Please continue to:
- Sign and share this petition.
- Tell us how the Stanley Centres have helped your family.
- Encourage others across South Tyneside to get involved.
- Contact your local councillors and ask them to support the future of the Stanley Centres.
This campaign is about protecting a service that has supported South Tyneside families for decades. Every signature, every story, and every share helps demonstrate how important these centres are to our community.
You can upload your Stanley’s testimonials at this web address: https://saveourstanleys.help/#/testimonials
Thank you for your continued support.