SCHOOLS are ‘stepping up’ to save eight children’s centres — but 31 jobs will be axed as the council cuts £1.5 million from the service.

Council chiefs have signed off plans to make the savings and have agreed a scheme which will mean that eight of the affected buildings will continue to be open and offer services to families, being run by schools.

However, these buildings will not be designated as children’s centres and people may have to travel further to get the service they need.

Unions have called the consultation on the changes ‘flawed’ and said nothing should be brought in until details about the move are made clearer.

Under the council’s plan, five buildings will continue to operate as children’s centres — under the new term of Start Well Hubs.

These will be based at Great Lever, Oxford Grove, Tonge, Alexandra and Oldhams.

Two new Start Well centres will be launched at refurbished bases at King Street Young People’s Centre in Farnworth and Winifred Kettle in Westhoughton.

When draft plans were announced in the summer, it was stated that a number of children’s centres would cease to exist in their current form, run by Bolton Council.

Since then the council has been in talks with schools and other organisations and has now announced plans for eight buildings to be taken over as new ‘linked sites’.

From March 31 next year, the Bright Meadows centre in Breightmet will be taken over by Bolton St Catherine’s Academy, while running of the Crompton Children’s Centre building will be the responsibility of the Valley Community Primary School.

The Lifebridge, which is the sixth form at Rumworth School, will take over the existing Heaton centre and St Mary’s CE Primary will run the Hulton building.

Little Lever’s children’s centre will come under the responsibility of Mytham Primary School and the Orchards Federation group of schools in Farnworth will run The Orchards children’s centre building.

Finally, Westhoughton’s centre will be taken over by Washacre Primary School and Lord Street and Grosvenor centre will be run by Grosvenor Nursery School.

The schools will receive government funding to run and staff the centres.

The council says each school will have its own ‘bespoke’ plan for the relevant building in its area and some will continue to deliver the types of services associated with a children’s centre.

But some schools will be unable to offer the same services for families and residents may need to travel further afield to access them.

The changes will mean the loss of 31 council jobs, down from the current 121 but bosses hope the majority of these will be found through voluntary early retirement, voluntary early severance and deleting posts.

Under the plans, Kearlsey Children’s Centre will remain open while work is carried out to refurbish the King Street Young People’s Centre, after which it will be transferred to a partner organisation which will take over its running.

A reduced service will also continue to be offered at Leverhulme and Bromley Cross as well as the Horwich and Blackrod library sites.

The Harvey Children’s Centre will continue to offer nursery places and specialist services for vulnerable families.

Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Linda Thomas said: “Deputy Leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Linda Thomas, said: “We have received some very good and workable solutions from schools interested in taking over the buildings.

“I’d like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation and assure them that we appreciate their passion for Children Centre services.

“We had no choice but to make £1.47 million savings in this area due to budget cuts imposed by central government, but we have taken on board people’s concerns and created a new service that will continue to provide essential services to families with young children in the borough.”

Taking over the centre at Westhoughton, Jenny Haunch, Headteacher at Washacre Primary School, said: "We are excited by the prospect of receiving the facilities in which we can host a variety of activities.

“We have in mind events such as Smoking Cessation, Weight Watchers, Silver Surfers IT sessions, Basic Skills Educational Opportunities and wrap around child care.”

The council’s biggest union, Unison has criticised the consultation process carried out regarding the changes.

A spokesman said: “Unison have fully engaged with management in a redundancy consultation, however management have been unable to provide a complete picture of how the children’s centre will be used.

“Negotiations with schools and other interested parties have not been concluded and we are unsure of how the remaining service will use the outsourced centres.

“The result is ultimately that the consultation process is flawed. We believe that cuts to children’s centres should be put on hold until all the details are available and full and meaningful consultation with the unions can be undertaken.”

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