Angela Fonso, a parent and Safer Play, Better Day campaign member writes about her concerns over Ealing Council’s proposals to close children’s centres in Southall and across the borough.
“I am reeling from Ealing Council’s proposal to close thirteen children’s centres including Greenfields, Dormer’s Wells and Windmill Park in Southall, an area with significant indicators of multiple deprivation.
“I live nearby to Greenfields Children’s Centre which is set to close but the nursery will remain open. I can remember when my children and I accessed the centre’s services, the strategy was to have a children’s centre within walking distance. Havelock and Southall Park Children’s Centres are not within walking distance from Southall Green. I know the challenges that parents face travelling on buses with toddlers and babies. There is only one bus route, the E5 which serves Havelock Children’s Centre which is a single decker bus and often overcrowded. More bus routes serve the Park Avenue bus stop on South Road for access to Southall Park Children’s Centre. The 195, a single decker bus is frequently overcrowded as is the lower deck of other bus routes towards Southall Broadway.
“Southall Green ward where Greenfields Children’s Centre is situated, is extremely deprived, with significant evidence of childhood poverty. As a local resident and an established campaigner, I see the evidence every day. Families living in one bedroom flats or other unsuitable accommodation (beds in sheds and garages) with two or more children and the posts on Nextdoor seeking a garage for a family including a young child are commonplace. I see the children in Spencer Street Playground playing with badly worn and damaged footballs. I run play events along with my colleague at this location and we engage with parents and their children. It is through casual chats and also seeing a child with badly worn school shoes, we know how tough life is. In the vicinity, we see the rundown houses and front doors patched up with plywood rather than being replaced.
“I know from this experience that parents often don’t have data on their mobile phones to complete surveys so paper surveys are essential in Southall Green ward, an area of digital poverty. It is disadvantageous to the residents of Southall Green to launch the consultation and online survey without making paper surveys available at the same time, at Greenfields Children’s Centre, Southall Library, Featherstone and Clifton primary schools and GP surgeries.
“The area is seeing a growth in young families, recent arrivals from India and there are often adverts from parents seeking childcare on Nextdoor and I can tell from the way the adverts are written that the parent isn’t thinking about DBS, references and childcare qualifications, even first aid. I remember one parent advertising for someone to look after her child, just a few hours before she needed to do something, which was presumably work. To counteract this lack of awareness, I share information on the Family Information Service and tell the parent if you leave your child with anyone without suitable background checks, your child will be at risk of physical and sexual abuse, leading to Social Services intervention. Greenfields Children’s Centre plays an essential role in educating parents about safe parenting practices in a much more meaningful and deep way than a brief response on social media.
“Many young parents are often isolated from the wider family who would provide help with childcare and guidance on parenting. The Children’s Centre staff are well skilled to spot possible early signs of postnatal depression and where parents are struggling with parenting. I cannot emphasise strongly enough that Greenfields Children’s Centre plays a significant role in preventing children from becoming Children in Need (CIN).
“I used to devour with relish, the termly information booklet detailing all the free services provided including health visiting, midwifery, baby massage, occupational therapy and physiotherapy clinics, perinatal mental health services and Makaton. I remember when my children were attending the nursery at Greenfields Children’s Centre, the play n’ stay sessions (no longer available) were always very popular. I was fortunate to do a one day paediatric first aid training course and a workshop on making children’s toys (rice shakers was one) which used everyday household items, vital in households where money on non-essentials is severely limited. Parenting courses were also available. Greenfields provides a safe environment where parents can get support with parenting going beyond the books given on babies and children up to the age of 5 at an antenatal appointment. It is comforting to be able to discuss concerns with caring and compassionate staff and to make friendships with other parents. I haven’t forgotten that the common issues were breastfeeding, weaning, sleeping, potty training, speech development and tantrums. I am eternally grateful that my children, now teenagers, haven’t forgotten Greenfields Children’s Centre and that the staff and services gave me immense support as a parent.
“Parents who access the children’s centre’s services will also be a feeder for the nursery provision and these services provide reassurance about the suitability of the nursery and undeniably it is beneficial that relationships have formed between the staff, children and parents before the child commences nursery. Outreach is also vital and I sometimes see Raj running her story and action rhyme sessions for parents and children in Southall Library and it is lovely to have a quick catch up with her.
“Closing Greenfields Children’s Centre is like taking a sledgehammer to destroy the progress made in early intervention in Southall Green Ward. The relocation of services to Havelock Children’s Centre will reduce services at this centre as it won’t be possible to accommodate all of the services offered by both children’s centres.
“I will be at Havelock Children’s Centre for the consultation meeting on 5 March 2025 from 1pm – 2pm and encourage all councillors to attend but my focus is on Cllrs Jasbir Anand, Kamaljit Dhindsa and Peter Mason who represent Southall Green, where Greenfields Children’s Centre is situated.”
The public consultation on children’s centres closes on 27th April 2025 and can be viewed: https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201042/current_consultations/3443/consultation_on_children_s_centre_services
