Influential Pen Green children’s centre faces closure due to council cuts

Model for integrated early-years care that inspired Sure Start programme to lose 75% of our funding'

It has been called the world's most famous children's centre, a globally influential early-years family project that grew out of one of the UK's most deprived communities and provided the inspiration for Sure Start. Now this Great British success story faces disaster - at the hands of its local Tory-run council.

North Northamptonshire council's executive meets on Tuesday morning to discuss proposals to take an axe to the funding of Pen Green, a trailblazing state-funded nursery school in the former steel town of Corby. There is a growing outcry. Why are they punishing the people who need their support?" said one incredulous parent at a drop-in session.