A children’s centre in Eastcote could close under new plans being considered by Hillingdon Council, with four other centres across the borough also facing an uncertain future.
Coteford Children’s Centre, based on Fore Street in Eastcote, is one of five sites identified in a council report that will be discussed at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, 22 October.
The centre currently supports families with children aged up to five, offering a range of early years services and support for parents and carers. The other centres facing possible closure are Cherry Lane in West Drayton, Charville in Hayes, Harefield Children’s Centre and Oak Farm in Hillingdon.
The proposals are part of a wider review of how the council provides support to families. However, no decisions have been made about closing any of the centres, with councillors initially being asked to approve a public consultation.
Why are the centres facing closure?
Hillingdon Council currently runs four Family Hubs and nine children’s centres, which provide services ranging from parenting advice and early years support to help for families with additional needs.
Under the plans, the council wants to change how these services are delivered, placing less emphasis on individual buildings and making greater use of schools, libraries, health centres and other community venues.
The council report says the proposed approach “reduces reliance on under-used buildings” and would allow staff and resources to be directed towards communities where support is most needed.
Rather than expecting families to visit a particular children’s centre, the idea is to offer more activities and support in places they already use. This could include regular sessions at community venues, alongside additional outreach work to reach families who might otherwise struggle to access services.
The four existing Family Hubs in Uxbridge, Hayes, South Ruislip and West Drayton would remain open. Meanwhile, children’s centres in Yiewsley, Yeading and Pinkwell could become Family Hubs, with another proposed for Hayes Town if suitable premises can be found.
Colham Manor Children’s Centre could also be turned into a Child Health Hub, although this would depend on an agreement with health partners.
What would happen to Coteford Children’s Centre?
For families using Coteford Children’s Centre in Eastcote, the proposals could mean that services currently provided at the Fore Street site would instead become available through other local venues or Family Hubs.
The council has not yet confirmed exactly where replacement services would be provided in Eastcote, and further work would be needed to assess how any changes might affect families who currently use the centre.
The report acknowledges that access to services must be considered carefully, particularly for parents who may have difficulty travelling, families on lower incomes and those with children with additional needs.
Importantly, the proposals relate to the children’s centre services and do not involve closing Coteford Infant School, which is located at the same site.
The council report also makes clear that “No closure or material change would take effect before consultation”, with any changes requiring a final decision and suitable alternative arrangements to be in place.
Residents to have their say on proposals
Cabinet members will consider the proposals on Thursday, 22 October, when they will decide whether to launch a six-week public consultation beginning in November.
If approved, parents, carers, residents and other interested groups would be invited to give their views on the changes, including how closing individual centres might affect access to local family support.
The consultation findings would then be reviewed before final recommendations are presented to the council’s Cabinet in February 2027.
If the changes are eventually approved, the council hopes to begin introducing its revised Family Hub service from April 2027, although some changes could take longer.
For now, all five children’s centres remain open, and families can continue using their existing services while the proposals are considered.
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