PARENTS face a drop in support as government funding cuts hit children’s services.

The budget for Sure Start centres and supporting parents has been slashed by 12 per cent, Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole councils confirmed this week.

This means the government’s pot for the three councils has gone from £28.6m to £25.1m. The money is also used for short breaks for disabled children, free education places for disadvantaged two-year-olds, and careers advice for teens.

Cllr Ben Grower, leader of Bournemouth’s Labour group, said: “We have just got over the 40 per cent cuts to the supporting people grant on the vulnerable and elderly.

“Now it seems they are attacking children as well.”

The following year funding will only be £22.7m – a drop of 21 per cent on the original level. Bournemouth is cutting back its parenting programmes, support for after-school clubs, and consultation with children.

Jane Portman, executive director for children’s and family services, said: “We are very disappointed the government has chosen to reduce the Early Intervention Grant.”

Poole and Dorset councils’ plans to deal with the cuts include management savings.

Toni Coombs, Dorset’s cabinet member for children’s services, said: “We’re looking at our management costs, how we support schools and have had to reduce funding to some of our providers.

What do Sure Start centres do?

* provide child and family health services, ranging from health visitors to breastfeeding support

* most centres offer high quality childcare and early learning - those that don’t can help advise on local childcare options

* advice on parenting, local childcare options and access to specialist services for families like speech therapy, healthy eating advice or help with managing money

* help mums find work or training opportunities, using links to local Jobcentre Plus offices and training providers

“We are trying our best to protect frontline services and have no plans to close any youth or children’s centres.”

Anne Newton, Poole’s strategic director for children’s services, said: “While the bulk of savings have been made by cutting management costs and working with partners to change the way services are delivered, there have been some reductions to funding for providers. But we have no plans to close any children’s centres.”

The Early Intervention Grant has been introduced by the Coalition government and replaced several existing grants. Labour said the loss per child this year would be £30 for children in Dorset, £60 for children in Bournemouth, and £40 for children in Poole.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “We have ensured local authorities have enough money to maintain the network of Sure Start Children’s Centres.”