Ealing’s 25 children’s centres surpass nearby boroughs, but many families aren’t using them. The council may consolidate services into 12 accessible, well-used centres.
Ealing Council is calling on residents to share their views on improving Early Help services for families with young children. Despite a wide range of support on offer, many families are not accessing services that could benefit them, often due to issues such as location, awareness, or accessibility.
Early Help services are designed to provide timely support to families, preventing minor challenges from escalating into bigger problems. To ensure these services are more accessible, flexible, and tailored to the needs of families, the council is undertaking a review of how children’s centres are organised across the borough.
A New Vision for Children’s Centres
Residents are encouraged to share their experiences and suggestions, whether or not they have used the services before. The consultation runs for 12 weeks and will close on Sunday, 27 April 2025.
Ealing currently has 25 children’s centres, more than neighbouring boroughs like Barnet or Croydon. However, not all families who could benefit are utilising these centres. To address this, the council is exploring the possibility of focusing services in 12 key centres. These would be selected based on accessibility, usage, and the suitability of their facilities.
The proposed approach would involve expanding the range of services offered at these centres and extending their opening hours, making them more convenient for families. Additionally, the council is considering delivering support through alternative community spaces, such as libraries or local centres, to bring services closer to home.
Public Consultation Now Open
To ensure the changes reflect the needs of the community, a public consultation is now open. Residents are encouraged to share their experiences and suggestions, whether or not they have used the services before. The consultation runs for 12 weeks and will close on Sunday, 27 April 2025.
The council has made the full consultation document available online, along with a short survey for residents to complete. There will also be opportunities to speak with staff at consultation events held in the coming weeks.
Reaching Families Sooner
Councillor Josh Blacker, the council’s cabinet member for a fairer start, emphasised the importance of community involvement: “We want as many people as possible to take part in the consultation.
“There are families who aren’t being reached by the current offer, whether due to limited hours or the range of services available. We aim to strengthen children’s centres by offering a wider range of services, longer opening hours, and improved accessibility.
“But we also recognise that not every parent needs to visit a centre to get support. That’s why we’re exploring ways to deliver help in local communities – through libraries, community centres, or health settings – to ensure families can access support close to home.”
Residents are encouraged to visit the Ealing Council website for more information and to participate in the consultation before it closes on 27 April 2025.
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