What would proposed closure of children's centres mean?

Up to 12 children's centres, known as family hubs, would be closed and services moved to other locations or libraries under proposals being put forward by Suffolk County Council.

A consultation on the plans is required by law and councillors at the Reform UK-run authority will vote on this on Thursday.

Under government plans announced last spring aimed at giving every child the best start in life, councils have been asked to set up Best Start Family Hubs.

Suffolk was awarded £6.5m to do it.

Council proposals looked at the 32 buildings that make up the family hubs network in Suffolk.

Of those, 29 provide services for new parents such as baby weighing sessions, health visiting, breastfeeding clinics and stay-and-play sessions.

Under the new plans, 17 family hubs would remain and become Best Start Family Hubs.

The other 12 will either be closed or their buildings repurposed for childcare or SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) provision.

Simon Aalders, Reform cabinet member for children and young people, said: "We know from other parts of the country that family hubs work best when they are close to home."

Eight of the hubs closing will have their services moved to other nearby hubs or libraries. They are:

• Dragonflies Family Hub, Halesworth – to Halesworth Library

• Eye Family Hub – to Eye Library

• Riverside Family Hub, Lowestoft – to Kirkley Family Hub

• Robins Family Hub, Needham Market – to Needham Market Library

• Village Rise Family Hub, Lowestoft – to The Ark Family Hub

• Hillside Family Hub, Ipswich – to Stoke Library

• Wooden House Family Hub, Ipswich – to Ipswich County Library

• Kesgrave Family Hub – to an alternative venue yet to be confirmed

Highfield Nursery School, Ipswich, is contracted to run outreach family hub services in the local community. These services are currently being funded on a month-by-month basis and will finish at the end of an agreed notice period, which has not been specified in the council report.

The report to councillors says the closures will save the council £450,000 annually and any consultation would need to be carried out over six weeks.

Labour group leader, Martin Cook, said: "Labour is putting £6.5m into Best Start Family Hubs. Reform's own strategy promises to give children the best start in life, yet their answer is to run fewer hubs and take £450,000 a year out. That is their choice, not the government's."

Ash Lever, Green group spokesperson for children and young people, education and SEND, said: "The plans may actually disadvantage families in need of support, particularly if they have no access to transport.

"We remain concerned that... the plans may actually disadvantage families in need of support, particularly if they have no access to transport and are not able to travel further afield."

Wooden House Family Hub in east Ipswich is on the closure list and parents will have to travel 1.9 miles (3km) to Ipswich County Library to access early years services if plans go ahead.

Leah Hewett has four children and has used the hub for her youngest child, who is now six.

"I think it would make parents around here struggle. There are lots of parents of young children around here and a lot of them don't drive," she said.

"The library in town, it's a really hard place to get to and to be able to get a baby out, whereas here it's nice and close to the community."

Asked what she would say to councillors considering closing the hub, Hewett said: "I'd urge them not to.

"It's an excellent place to bring the kids – it's like a heart of the community."

Another mother, Rebecca, who did not want to give her last name, also uses the hub.

She thought the idea of using libraries to offer services was "good" but feared it could mean a longer wait for an appointment.

Aalders said: "We know from other parts of the country that family hubs work best when they are close to home and offer a range of services under one roof.

"Under this proposed model, parents and carers can come to one place and get everything they need.

"If approved by cabinet, this will be open to consultation next week, and is, by no means, a done deal.

"We will review responses and use these to inform any final decision."

A final decision will be made after the consultation has concluded and is not expected until early 2027.

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