SureStart cut by Medway Conservatives

It is official - despite the spin from Medway Conservative candidates and the campaign rhetoric from the Tory camp - they are cutting Sure Start.

This blogger received confirmation of the cuts after a question was submitted to Council last Thursday.

The Tory portfolio holder, Les Wicks, clearly had zero clue of his brief and was not aware that the figures had been distributed in advance. He callously could not admit the simple numbers that he is cutting Sure Start.

It is a real and cash term cut. It is a cut that the Tories want to brush under the carpet by twisting words to justify it to themselves; that whilst no centres are closed, the budget for staff, facilities and funding for particular programmes will be brutally slashed.

You can not trust Medway Tories with Sure Start. Not then, not now, not ever.

The budget figures were revealed by the Medway Council finance officer highlighting a real terms cut of £281,000

The Medway Conservatives have totally cut to £0 this year the Disabled Children's Access to Childcare (DCATCH) fund and the Every Child a Talker (ECAT) funding.

The ECaT programme operated in 97 local authorities (LAs) and was designed to help children with language difficulties. The programme allowed parents and practionners to share understanding about how language develops from 0-5. It also allowed regular monitoring of how children's language is developing with support identification of children who might be falling behind. The Tories have cut this budget.

The Disabled Children's Access to Childcare (DCATCH) was specifically aimed at Disabled Children and childcare provision for this group of children and their families. The initiative was to address the lack of adequate provision to meet the childcare needs of disabled children and their families, and reduce barriers to access.

Tories should hang their heads in shame for cutting Sure Start.