Nursery World - Children's services in England face cash crisis, warn charities

Funding for children’s services has fallen by nearly a third since 2010,
according to a new analysis by a coalition of the 'big five' children's charities.

The joint report by the children's charities that make up the children's services funding alliance, Action for Children, the Children’s Society, NSPCC, the National Children’s Bureau and Barnardo’s, warns that thousands more children and young people could fall into crisis if the cuts continue.

Councils are facing a £3 billion funding gap for children’s services by 2025, with many services already closed or already reduced.

Despite funding cuts, the report said that many councils have sought to protect children's services, with spending falling by 16 per cent compared to a 29 per cent funding drop since 2010/11.

Councils in London have seen the largest cuts. Westminster has seen its funding cut the most by 51 per cent, Tower Hamlets and Camden have experienced cuts of 49 per cent, and Newham and Hackney, both 46 per cent.

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