Government cuts to ‘Early Intervention’ programmes could hurt support for the most deprived children in the borough, as Sure Start Children’s Centre funding is put at risk.

Tooting MP Sadiq Khan has called on Wandsworth Council, to prioritise vital services for young children and their parents in the face of an 11% national cut to the grant that pays for Sure Start.

The worried MP has written to Wandsworth Council, asking them to guarantee that Children’s Centres in the borough, and other key ‘early intervention’ services will not face the axe due to a 8.4% cut in the town hall’s funding for early years services.

Despite pre-election promises that its funding would be frozen, Sure Start is facing cuts across the country after the funding pot for the service was cut by £1.4bn up to April 2013.

The government has also removed the ‘ringfence’ for Sure Start funding, which prevents councils from using the money on other services

Sadiq Khan MP said, “Sure Start has been a huge help to families around the borough – ensuring excellent support for young mothers and babies, and providing reliable childcare and early years support which helps mums back into work.

“Cuts to Sure Start will help the poorest the hardest.  I have the asked the council to think long and hard before making cuts that will punish those who need support the most.”