Labour-run Ealing Council’s decision to close up to 10 of its children’s centres has sparked anger and criticism from opposition councillors and community groups in the borough, despite the council’s revised plans to enhance Early Help services across the borough.
On Tuesday (10 June 2025), Labour councillors in Ealing voted against an opposition motion to save nine of the borough’s children’s centres during a full council meeting. Then on Wednesday (11 June 2025), the cabinet confirmed the closures, including Hathaway Children’s Centre in Pitshanger, Windmill Children’s Centre in Greenford, and Northolt Park Children’s Centre.
Leader of Ealing Conservatives, Councillor Julian Gallant, who opposed the closures, criticised the consultation process, stating: “In eight out of the nine centres facing closure, the council didn’t even bother to show up in person to consult parents and staff. That’s not engagement. It’s abandonment.”
He further alleged financial motivations behind the closures: “Buried deep in the council’s own report is the truth: this is about money. While Labour hides behind jargon like ‘strategy’ and ‘efficiency’, what we’re really seeing is a shameful closure of children centres on Labour’s watch. A Labour council and a Labour government.”
Liberal Democrat Councillor Jonathan Oxley has also been vocal in challenging the closures. He initiated a debate at the full council meeting to argue that children’s centres are vital to ensuring a better start to life.
According to Councillor Oxley, eight centres are proposed for closure, with additional reductions in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and childcare provisions. These include Acton (Maples), Ealing (Hathaway and Log Cabin), Greenford (Windmill), Northolt (Northolt Park), and Southall (Grove, Windmill and Greenfields), with Copley Close in Hanwell and Academy Gardens in Northolt being de-designated.
He said: “Liberal Democrats believe that these closures will affect many deprived and vulnerable members of our community who rely on these localised services leaving them isolated and struggling to access critical physical, mental and social healthcare for their children. For the Labour party to reduce these services for the very youngest children and families goes against all the early years evidence which shows that it is critical to giving our children the best start in life. Liberal Democrats want to see every children’s centre kept open.”
The Liberal Democrats argue that the move represents a form of privatisation, with some facilities to be managed privately, potentially resulting in worse outcomes for children aged 0–5 and job losses for skilled staff.
Following pressure from campaigners and Liberal Democrat councillors, Labour has reversed plans to close three centres — Jubilee in Ealing, Petts Hill in Northolt, and Dormers Wells in Southall. Despite this U-turn, eight centres across five towns remain under threat. A petition led by Save Ealing’s Children’s Centres gathered nearly 2,000 signatures.
Clare Welsby for Save Ealing Children’s Centres said: “We acknowledge that community pressure helped save three centres, but this is not a victory – this is damage limitation. The Council has chosen to ignore the voices of parents, carers, early years professionals, and the evidence from its own consultation. This decision will hurt children, especially in the borough’s most deprived areas.”
Ealing Council said the original plan involved keeping 12 children’s centres open to continue delivering the full range of support, with outreach services under review. The remaining 13 were to be de-designated, with consideration given to how those sites could be repurposed.
The council noted that two centres were already not delivering any children’s services and others were offering only a low number of sessions per week.
The remaining 10 sites will still be used for some Early Help services – such as SEND support or nursery provision – but will no longer operate as full children’s centres.
In response to the consultation, Ealing Council also announced that it will expand outreach services through hubs in libraries, GP surgeries and other community venues across the borough.
Councillor Josh Blacker, cabinet member for a fairer start, said: “We’ve listened carefully to residents and made important changes in response to what we heard. This is about getting support to families earlier and in the ways that work best for them. That means not just keeping centres open where they’re most needed, but also making sure all existing sites continue to play a role in supporting children and families across the borough.”
The council’s revised proposals are expected to be rolled out in phases throughout the year.
An Ealing Council spokesperson told EALING.NEWS: “Children’s centres provide vital services for families and are cornerstones of the community, but the current set up is not working. We have 25 centres, but despite increased demand for statutory children’s services, not all families who could benefit are using them.
“Supporting our most vulnerable residents is a top priority for us and our aim with the children’s centres is to design a service more tailored to our families’ needs and move services into the community to better reach those who may need our help while retaining the largest number of children’s centres in London.
“The goal is to reach more families, earlier, with better support, and while some centres will no longer operate in their current form, the services themselves are being enhanced, with all 7 towns seeing an increase in children’s centre activity following the changes.
“We’ve worked closely with the community throughout this process and have engaged with over 2,000 residents and have adapted plans based on what we’ve heard. We remain open to ongoing dialogue with all community stakeholders.”
