A taskforce composed of children’s charities is calling on the government to ring-fence the Early Intervention Grant and make reforms in order to protect the UK’s early years services.

The taskforce was created by Acevo, and has produced a report entitled One Million Reasons for Reform, which argues that many early years services are under significant pressure.

It points to research which suggests that as many as 250 children’s centres are expected to close in 2011-12.

In addition to ring-fencing for local authorities’ use of the Early Intervention Grant, the report calls for:

• Better engagement with the voluntary sector in developing policy
• Reform of public sector pensions and VAT so that voluntary organisations can better compete with local council-run services
• A step change in the quality of council commissioning practice

The report also sets out key principles by which payment by results should be introduced for finding children’s centres.

Members of the taskforce include 4Children, Action for Children, Barnardo’s and the Children’s Society. They will meet with the Children’s minister Sarah Teather to discuss the report shortly.

Speaking about the report, Anne Longfield, chair of the taskforce chief executive of 4Children, said: "Government has made a commitment to making early intervention a priority. But without fundamental reform and protection of funding, we risk going into reverse rather than making progress.

“Success would mean millions of lives improved, and billions saved further down the line in public spending. Failure would mean a worse start in life for millions of children, and taxpayers sitting on a fiscal time bomb."