CAMPAIGNERS protesting against the closure of children's centres in Haringey have sent a petition to the Education Secretary.

Funding cuts to four of the borough's 19 centres – which will almost certainly lead to closures – were rubber-stamped last week by Haringey Council.

But angry parents blame the Government after the council was forced to save £41 million this year due to reduced funding from Whitehall, and have sent a petition with 1,111 signatures to Michael Gove asking him to ensure the service remains.

Daisy Heath, organiser of the campaign, said: “In Haringey, we have seen the universal model of children’s centres benefit thousands of children and their families.

“There is simply not a case for removing most of the services that are being cut. All the evidence shows that money invested in the first years of a vulnerable child’s life will save society money in the long-term.

“Even if the majority of the centres stay open - rather than the beating hearts of our communities, we believe that they will become empty ghosts of their former selves, only able to provide health-based targeted services for needy families in effectively segregated provision.”

Ms Heath wants Mr Gove to ring-fence funding to children's centres from Government budget cuts so that the centres can stay open.

The Government scrapped many targeted grants in December last year and replaced them with the Early Intervention Grant – which local authorities can spend how they see fit.

But the size of the grant was nearly 11 per cent less than the total of the previous funding streams.

In a statement, the Department for Education said: “We have ensured there is enough money in the system to maintain a network of Sure Start children's centres, and provided new investment for health visitors.

“Local authorities have a legal duty to provide sufficient children's centre provision for the families in their areas and must consult local communities properly before closing or changing children's centres.”