A Sure Start?

Evaluation and value of Sure Start.

A decade ago, the Cross-Departmental Review of Services for Young Children concluded that disadvantage among young children was increasing and it was more likely that poor outcomes could be prevented when early intervention was undertaken.1 The review also noted that current services were uncoordinated and patchy, and recommended that there should be a change in service design and delivery. It ...

Origins, purpose and future of Sure Start children's centres.

Sure Start began in England under the UK's former Labour government as an intervention for families with young children, particularly targeting the most deprived in society. More than a decade later the service is under threat in many parts of the country as local councils face financial difficulties. This article considers the origins, purpose and future of the service.

National Evaluation of Sure Start local programmes: An economic perspective

Sure Start local programmes (SSLPs), the forerunners to Sure Start Children’s Centres, aim to support young children and their families by integrating early education, childcare, healthcare and family support services in disadvantaged areas. The programmes aim to improve the health and well-being of families and young children, so that the children will have a greater opportunity to do well in ...

Ethnic minority participation in an East Midlands Sure Start.

This paper draws on evidence from a local Sure Start evaluation of low participation rates among ethnic minority families. It reflects national concerns regarding the low use of children's services among ethnic minority families. The evaluation aimed to improve understanding of the factors that affect families' participation in Sure Start services. A sample of 34 ethnic minority parents, six Su...

National evaluation of Sure Start l ocal p rogrammes : An economic perspective