PEOPLE are being asked to have their say on proposed changes to East Sussex children’s centres.

East Sussex County Council is consulting on proposals which would see five of its 31 sites ‘de-designated’ as children’s centres.

The council says new national rules which will increase the number of two-year-olds eligible for free early years education and childcare from September mean it has to free up space to cater for this age group.

Two sites in the Eastbourne area and three in Hastings and St Leonards would cease to formally be children’s centres, but services would continue to be offered at other sites in the area. Services may also be offered at the de-designated sites outside of nursery times.

Cllr Sylvia Tidy, East Sussex County Council lead member for children and families, said: “High quality early years education and play helps children develop well and gives them a good start in life.

“With more two-year-olds qualifying for free early learning, it’s vital we have the capacity to ensure all eligible children can take up this opportunity.

“Parents will still be able to access children’s centre activities for their child in their area with a number of other centres continuing unaffected in both Eastbourne and Hastings and St Leonards.

“I’d encourage as many people as possible to take part in the consultation, to ensure their views can be taken into account in formulating the final proposals.”

Children’s centres which are ‘de-designated’ will no longer be separate, individual children’s centres, but may still be used to provide some children’s centre services.

De-designation of individual buildings does not affect the amount of funding an area receives for children’s centre services.

The consultation, which runs until Friday, July 18, can be completed online at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/childrens-centre-changes

People can find out more at a public event at the Magnet Centre, in St Leonards, on Thursday, June 19 from 10am to noon.

People can also take part by posting their comments in boxes provided at children’s centres, via children’s centre Facebook pages, or writing to East Sussex Children’s Centres, 2nd Floor, St Mark’s House, 14, Upperton Road, Eastbourne, BN21 1EP.

The five children’s centres proposed for de-designation are:

Polegate Children’s Centre

(Nearest centres: Shinewater – 3.1 miles / Hailsham East – 4 miles)

The centre, on the Polegate School site, lies in an area where there is a significant deficit in the number of childcare places available for two-year-olds.

This centre could be used to provide additional childcare places for two-year-olds and other services could continue to be offered outside of nursery times or at other community venues.

Willingdon Trees Children’s Centre

(Nearest centre: Hampden Park – 1 mile)

Discussions are underway with Oakwood Primary Academy about developing a more integrated approach to the delivery of foundation stage provision on this site.

This would mean babies starting nursery would stay within the same setting until the end of reception year. The building currently used as the children’s centre would need to be used to accommodate the nursery provision.

Staff based at this centre would be accommodated alongside the Hampden Park team.

Silverdale Children’s Centre, St Leonards

(Nearest centre: St Leonards – 1 mile)

The centre is on the Silverdale school site and in an area where there is a significant deficit in the number of childcare places for two-year-olds.

This centre could be used to provide additional childcare places for two-year-olds and other services could continue to be offered outside of nursery times or at other community venues.

Churchwood Children’s Centre, St Leonards

(Nearest centre: Robsack – 1 mile)

The centre, on the Churchwood school site, could be used to offer additional two-year-old places as it is in an area where additional childcare places are required.

An application for capital funding to extend and develop the site has already been submitted.

Children’s centre services could continue to be offered outside of nursery times or at other community venues.

Red Lake Children’s Centre, Hastings

(Nearest centre: East Hastings – 1 mile)

The centre, on the Red Lake school site, could be used to offer additional two-year-old places as it is in an area where additional childcare places are required.

Children’s centre services could continue to be offered outside of nursery times or at other community venues.