Hundreds of parents, children and childcare workers took part in a noisy demonstration outside the Cabinet meeting at the Town Hall on Wednesday 12th December, after the Council announced cuts to Children’s Centres and childcare providers.
In April 2013, the Council plans to end grants to childcare providers, which will have a big impact in Burngreave, affecting Firvale Preschool, Ellesmere Children’s Centre and Watoto. The plans also include changes to Children’s Centres, including Sure Start centres, which are reducing from 36 centres to 17 areas for the city.
Over 200 members of the public attended the Cabinet meeting; many were parents and children from all over the city. As the meeting began, demonstrators outside could still be heard shouting ‘What do we want? Childcare!’
One parent from Darnall, Emma Chadwick, submitted a petition of over 1500, she broke down with emotion as she explained the specialist support she currently receives for her autistic son at her local centre. She told the meeting,
“I’ve spent 3 hours yesterday and 3 hours today getting signatures, so you can see how we feel about these cuts. Have you considered all the hard work that has been done to make these services happen for our children?”
Parents from Firvale Preschool spoke in Arabic about the impact on their lives.
“I have to sign on at the jobcentre, and I need to improve my English. Where will my children go so that I can go to ESOL classes.” Alfia
“My husband works nights and sleeps in the day. I need to learn English so I can become more independent and I need childcare.” Sharifa
“I have four children, where will they go if you close the centre?” Wafa
Kate Thompson from Ellesmere Children's Centre said, “Do you understand the impact on Sheffield as a whole? People will be losing their jobs. And parents who go to work will have nowhere to take their children.”
Speaking from Darnall Community Centre, one parent said, “What will happen to our vulnerable children if we lose the experienced childcare staff in Sheffield?”
Abtisam Mohammed sparked a cheer from the audience when she said,
“The last Labour Government was a champion for childcare, why are you not? You say you have no choice, but you can decide how you spend the money you have. Essex Council have made a legal challenge to cuts. Why can’t you do the same? How can you decimate childcare in this way?”
Parents questioned the consultation process that had led to the proposals, saying they had not been involved, while others were angry that the cabinet report claimed the Council would improve services by making the cuts. There were concerns about whether there would be enough childcare places to meet parents needs following the changes. One worker was concerned about how services, such as domestic abuse support, would reach vulnerable people without front lines services like childcare.
Shamza Iftkar from Tinlsey said, “We only have one nursery in our community, where will I take my children, there are no transport links to anywhere else.”
Dawn Walter, Director for prevention and intervention, presented a report to the Cabinet and tried to respond to some of the issues that parents had raised,
“This is a proposal in principle, which is subject to further consultation in January 2013. The final proposal will come back to Cabinet for a decision in February. We have no intention of closing any childcare centres.”
“There has been a transfer of funding from the Early Intervention Grant, to Early Learning for 2 year olds. We have a statutory duty to provide this from September 2013 but we will expand 2 year old places from April 2013. We need to look at how childcare providers can work together to make the most of opportunities to create childcare places.”
Councillor Jackie Drayton, Cabinet member for Children and Young People, responded saying,
“I understand you are feeling very upset. The changes must be seen in the context of a tidal wave of cuts from the Government, not just the £50 million this year, but also £140 million over the last 2 years. The government have made a fundamental shift. £6.8 million has been cut from the Early Intervention Grant and we now have £6.8 million for Early Learning, we have to spend it on that.”
Jackie went on to criticise the existing services, “Not every centre is ‘outstanding’ that’s not acceptable. Some centres are just not up to the mark. Parents have told me they can’t get childcare when they want it. It can’t just be 9am to 3pm. It’s about being more flexible. We no longer have the money for grants for childcare, we will protect as much as we can.”
This wasn’t received well by people in the audience, and following the decision by Cabinet to agree the recommendations there were shouts from the audience,
“We will not accept the cuts, we will not accept the cuts!”