Parents and carers are invited to have their say on the future of children's centre services in Hounslow.

Public meetings will be held to look at and discuss the controversial proposals set out on reshaping the services for under fives in the borough, as a result of Hounslow Council budget cuts.

The meetings due to take place are part of the consultation process being carried out by the council and a chance for concerned families to share their views.

Councillor Tom Bruce, cabinet member for education and children’s services, said: “It’s important that we hear the views of everyone who uses our children’s centres, but we also want to hear from the parents and carers of any child in the borough who is under five.

"This is so that we can shape the future of our services to provide those that are most needed.

“We encourage as many people as possible to give us their views at these meetings.

"The more we hear about what is needed, the more we can provide the right services in the right places for families who need them most and give children across the borough the best possible start in life.”

The proposals would see Feltham Hill, Norwood Green, Chiswick and Syon children's centres close, with only four of the remaining 14 centres continuing to offer their current services full-time.

The council wants to deliver a service that incorporates supporting vulnerable families, and proposed changes would see additional free childcare places being provided for disadvantaged two-year-olds in the most deprived areas of the borough.

During the consultation parents and carers can also find out about all the services on offer for under-fives in the borough and how to access them.

The public meetings will take place from 6.30pm-8pm on:

  • Monday October 5 – Marlborough Primary School, Darcy Road, off London Road, Isleworth, TW7 5XA
  • Tuesday October 13 – Hounslow Professional Development Centre, 78 St Johns Road, Isleworth, TW7 6RU

There are questionnaires available in paper format and online and there are individual focus groups for users of each centre where people can share their views.

The consultation runs until Saturday October 17.

A public consultation on the proposals, titled 'Brighter futures for under fives', was launched on July 20 and is due to run until October 17. You can find out more and have your say at www.hounslow.gov.uk/underfives.