Early Years future

Like every area of the public sector, the Council is reviewing the services on offer through the centres in the light of national changes to how they are funded.

The Council's Cabinet has agreed to launch a consultation into how to adapt services while keeping all the borough's centres open.

The proposals would ensure there is at least one centre (a 'lead centre') in each area of Rotherham which offers a full range of services. Each area which currently has more than one centre would have a lead centre but would also retain its other centre(s).

These 'satellite centres' would be linked to the lead centres and provide a more specific range of services tailored to the needs of that area.

Where there are two centres which have a high level of need the Council is looking to retain both centres as 'lead centres'.

Councillor Paul Lakin, Cabinet Member for Safeguarding and Providing Learning Opportunities to Children, said: "We know the value of these centres so we have agreed to keep them all open but changes to how they operate are inevitable with the funding we now have available.

"It's vital that people take part in our consultation and let us know about what services they use and what they would like to see in their area so we can match those needs with what can be provided to meet them."

The closing date for consultation is May 5 and full details can be obtained by visiting the Rotherham MBC website at http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/ and using the search term "early years consultation".