Renewed threat to Newstead Children’s Centre and its services
 
Newstead is rated by Ofsted as 1 and has recently come second in a nationwide award for the safeguarding of children. Its services include parenting support, stay and play sessions, childcare, speech and language therapy, parenting and language courses and homestart which are accessible for all of Newstead’s families. It offers vital services for families with young children which touches and benefits many people across the area.
Barnet council has finally just made its budget public and there will be a 35% cut to its childcare budget in the next 2 years despite a promise to pay by results. Despite a lack of clarity, there also appears to be advanced plans to close childcare and make other vital services unavailable to many families in the area.
Email us if you can help or have any questions at enquiries@savenewstead.com
If you or your family use and appreciate all of Newstead´s services, PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY WRITING AN E-MAIL LETTER OR SIGNING OUR ONLINE PETITION.
We’ve included a draft letter that you can add to or amend.
To write a letter, or You just need to...
1. Open this word document.
2. Insert your comments e.g. personal situation, the impact of the cuts to childcare of Newstead on your family, the services that your family uses and values.
3. Insert your name at the bottom and delete the red text.
4. Send an email to Andrew Harper (councillor) to cllr.a.harper@barnet.gov.uk and/or Mike Freer (our MP) to mike.freer.mp@parliament.uk.
Andrew Harper
Deputy Leader of Barnet Council
Address: 15 Hampstead Gardens London NW11 7EU
Email: cllr.a.harper@barnet.gov.uk
Barnet Council telephone: 020 8201 9527
Mike Freer
MP for Finchley & Golders Green
Address: Finchley & Golders Green Conservatives, 212 Ballards Lane, Finchley, N3 2LX
Email: mike.freer.mp@parliament.uk
Constituency office telephone: 0208 445 5875
Westminster office telephone: 0207 219 7071
Alternatively, please add your support to our online petition by signing using this hyperlink.
Please forward the petition to your friends and families and ask them to write quick e-mail as the number of signatories and e-mails will drive how much notice the Council takes, especially in this election period.

If you have already signed please ask your family, friends and colleagues to do the same. It is vital to express your support for Newstead now!
Dates for your diary:

Meeting for Newstead Parents to discuss strategy on Mon 26th March

A meeting is scheduled for any parents/supporters of Newstead on Mon 26th March in The Five Bells Pub on East End Road at 8pm. It will highlight the current issues and deciding on a strategy for how we can work together to prevent the large budget cut.