Leeds City Council has taken the decision to modernise children’s centre services in Leeds, to utilise opportunities to offer support from alternative community spaces and to ensure they are sustainable and cost effective for the future. We are now starting to deliver the implementation of these changes.
- What's happening now
- Changes to children’s centres approved by Executive Board
- About the review
- Contact us
What’s happening now
Services will be delivered through a more integrated approach. Building on the success of the 7 family hubs, children’s centre services will align with these hubs to offer a wider range of support through several sites in each hub area. This will strengthen cohesion and ensure families receive consistent help, supporting the Family Help model: ‘one worker, one plan’. Further details about services that will be delivered at each centre will be added over the coming weeks.
Some closures will take place between December and March as existing contracts end and new arrangements are put in place. There will be further closures and realignment of services from January to March. More details will be provided on these in due course.
Details of the most up to date centre closures and service changes can be seen below:
| Name of children's centre | Exit timeline (to end delivery at this site) | Services are now delivered at |
|---|---|---|
| Cottingley | Already ceased | Two Willows Children's Centre |
| Ardsley and Tingley | Already ceased | Rothwell Children's Centre and Lofthouse Children's Centre |
| Quarry Mount | Already ceased | Little London Children's Centre |
| Chapel Allerton | Already ceased | Meanwood Children's Centre and Chapeltown Children's Centre |
| Manor Wood | Already ceased | Meanwood Children's Centre and Moortown Children's Centre |
| Pudsey | 12 December 2025 | Swinnow Children's Centre |
| Gildersome | 19 December 2025 | Two Willows Children's Centre |
| Headingley | 19 December 2025 | Horsforth Children's Centre and Ireland Wood Children's Centre |
| Farsley and Calverley | 19 December 2025 | Swinnow Children's Centre |
| Alwoodley | 19 December 2025 | Moortown Children's Centre |
| Roundhay | 19 December 2025 | Moortown Children's Centre |
| Gipton | 19 December 2025 | Osmondthorpe Children's Centre and Dame Fanny Waterman Community Centre from January |
We are progressing work on a proposed staffing restructure, with consultation involving staff and trade unions scheduled to begin early in the new year.
At the same time, we are continuing to develop the service model (including a new digital offer) for children’s centres, shaped by the views of families and stakeholders and informed by previous consultation and engagement.
This review of children’s centre service delivery is an important first step towards creating a sustainable network of services that will effectively support the Leeds Ambitions and remain fit for a 21st-century Child Friendly City.
We recognise that these changes may bring some uncertainty for families and staff in the short term. Our aim is to minimise this by taking a pragmatic, well-planned and timely approach to the transition.
We value and welcome feedback throughout this process and encourage you and families to share your views as we move forward together.
If you have any questions, please email childrenscentresreview@leeds.gov.uk
Changes to children’s centres approved by Executive Board
Keeping 31 children’s centres open across the city
The council to retain and continue operating 31 children’s centres to maintain a universal and citywide offer of support for families via the following groups:
- South Group 1: New Bewerley, Two Willows, Middleton
- South Group 2: Morley North, Rothwell, Lofthouse, Kippax
- West Group 3: Armley Moor, Bramley, Little London
- West Group 4: Horsforth, Ireland Wood, Swinnow, Hawksworth Wood, Aireborough, Otley
- East Group 5: Harehills, Gipton North & South, Richmond Hill, Osmondthorpe, Shakespeare
- East Group 6: Kentmere, Swarcliffe, Seacroft, Meadowfield Temple Newsam & Colton (MTC), Cross Gates & Manston
- East Group 7: Chapeltown, Moortown, Wetherby, Meanwood, Bankside
A new funding model
The implementation of a new funding formula model that will distribute available finances across the city in a way which best meets the identified needs within those communities.
Enhanced online support for families
Provision of an increased online offer of family services and support, whilst maintaining in person support for families.
New delivery spaces in some areas
Provision of services and support from other community spaces and buildings, as an alternative to some of the existing children’s centres.
Aligning children’s centres with Family Hubs
The organisation of Children’s Centres into 7 groups in alignment with the 7 Family Hubs approach.
Deregistration of 6 children’s centres
The deregistering of 6 children’s centres where services are not currently provided: City and Holbeck, Hunslet, Windmill, Morley South, Hollybush, Kirkstall.
Closure and realignment of 18 children’s centres
The closure and realignment of services in 18 Children’s Centres: Cottingley, Farnley, Gildersome, Ardsley/Tingley, Villages East, Castleton, Quarry Mount, Burley Park, Headingley, Pudsey, Farsley and Calverley, Parklands, Garforth, Boston Spa, Alwoodley, Roundhay, Chapel Allerton, Manor Wood.
Ongoing commitment to children’s centres
Leeds City Council remains committed to providing a universal offer of support and services across the city.
Benefits of these changes
- The changes will ensure a solid commitment remains to the provision of a universal offer of support and services across the city, underpinned by a needs-led funding model. This includes targeted funding for the most vulnerable, an approach that received strong support from both the public and professionals during the consultation.
- Leeds will retain its position as having the largest network of children’s centres of any core city.
- The changes will create a modernised and sustainable 0 to 5 years Family Service offer, with resources targeted based on community need and accessibility enhanced through both digital and face-to-face options.
- Updated service delivery will establish a more integrated approach with our Family and Community Hubs, supporting our ambition to offer more ‘one stop’ joined-up help for local people.
About the review
We have been reviewing how family services are delivered through children’s centres across the city. This included consultation on proposals to change how we offer family services and support from children’s centres in Leeds.
The review is about making a clear plan for the future. It has focused on the council’s key duties under the Childcare Act 2006 and considered how best these can be delivered to families of young children in the most effective and efficient way to:
- improve the wellbeing of young children in their area and reduce inequalities between them
- make arrangements to ensure childhood services in their area are provided in an integrated manner to facilitate access and maximise the benefit of those services to young children and their parents
- support commissioners of local health and employment services to work with the local authority in improving the wellbeing of young children and securing integrated early childhood service
Contact us
If you have any questions about the review, email: childrenscentresreview@leeds.gov.uk.
We will continue to publish updates on this webpage.
