Sure Start

Sure Start was a UK Government area-based initiative, announced in 1998 by the

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, applying primarily in England with slightly
different versions in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.[1] The initiative originated from
HM Treasury,[2] with the aim of "giving children the best possible start in life" through
improvement of childcare, early education, health and family support, with an emphasis on
outreach and community development. Funding was substantial, with 540m allocated for
expenditure between 1999 and 2002, 452m of it within England, to set up 250 Sure Start
Local Programmes (SSLPs) reaching up to 150,000 children in areas of deprivation.[3] This
article focuses on the development of Sure Start in England, where a national longitudinal
evaluation known as NESS was set up in 2001.
The UK Government initially pledged to fund Sure Start for 10 years, but in 2003, Chancellor
Gordon Brown announced the Government's long-term plan to transfer Sure Start into the
control of local government by 2005, and create a Sure Start Children's Centre in every
community.[4]
Initial research findings from NESS, published in 2005, suggested the impact of SSLPs was
not as great as had been hoped.[5] However, by 2010, NESS could identify a significant
impact on some of the outcomes set for Sure Start.[6]
Overview
Launched in 1998, Sure Start had similarities to the Head Start programme in the United
States and is also comparable to Australia Head Start[7] and Ontario's Early Years Plan.
Related to the Government's goal of reducing child poverty, the initial districts for Sure Start
development were selected "according to the levels of deprivation within their areas"[8] the
focus being particularly on disadvantaged areas but open to all families living in the
catchment area. Such catchment areas were selected locally by the projects.
Sure Start was overseen by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the
Department for Work and Pensions. The programme has been described by Tony Blair as
"one of New Labour's greatest achievements".
Each project was allowed to develop in its own way depending on the expressed wishes of
parents and the guidance of the various organisations heading up each one. Policy on such
matters as choosing volunteers and even the services offered were a local level decision.[9]
Sure Start local programmes were opened in waves, Round 1 indicates the first wave of
programmes starting 1999. Round 6 represents the final wave of Sure Start local
programmes mostly starting in 2003.[10]
The National Evaluation of the programme is ongoing. The latest evaluation, at age three
years, showed positive, if modest, effects for all categories of families.[11]
Every Child Matters proposed a switch from Sure Start local programmes to Sure Start
Childrens Centres, which would be controlled by local authorities, and would be provided

not just in the most disadvantaged areas. In the 2004 Comprehensive Spending Review,
Chancellor Gordon Brown announced that the Government would provide funding for 2,500
Children's Centres by 2008.[12] This target was later increased to 3,500 childrens centres by
2010. Of the 524 original Sure Start local programmes, most are now Sure Start Children's
Centres.
Some Sure Start Local Programmes have become registered Charities and Companies
Limited by guarantee. Sure Start Hounslow, a programme in West London, became a
company limited by guarantee in 2004 and now delivers a range of services, many through
Service Level Agreement with the local authority, not all of which focus entirely on children
under five. This development has been one of many routes that Sure Start Local
Programmes have taken to ensure sustainability during the "tapering" of the original Sure
Start Grant.
In 2005, Norman Glass, one of the original architects of Sure Start wrote an article praising
the increased government focus on the early years, but criticising cuts in funding per head;
the change from child development to childcare and getting mothers into work; and the shift
back to local authority control, rather than being run by boards including parents.[13]
Children's Centres are expected to provide:

In centres in the 30% most disadvantaged areas: integrated early learning and
childcare (early years provision) for a minimum of 10 hours a day, five days a week,
48 weeks a year; and support for a childminder network

In centres in the 70% least disadvantaged areas, which do not elect to offer early
years provision: drop-in activity sessions for children, such as stay and play sessions

Family Support, including support and advice on parenting, information about

services available in the area and access to specialist, targeted services; and
Parental Outreach

Child and Family Health Services, such as antenatal and postnatal support,
information and guidance on breastfeeding, health and nutrition, smoking cessation
support, and speech and language therapy and other specialist support

Links with Jobcentre Plus to encourage and support parents and carers who wish to
consider training and employment

Quick and easy access to wider services[14]

Evidence of effectiveness
A 2007 study by researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Wales published in the
British Medical Journal[15] looking at parenting interventions within the Sure Start system in
Wales examined 153 parents from socially deprived areas and showed that a course
teaching improved parenting skills had great benefits in reducing problem behaviour in
young children. Parents were taught to:

Increase positive child behaviour through praise and incentives

Improve parent-child interaction: relationship building

Set clear expectations: limit setting and non-aversive management strategies for
non-compliance

Apply consistent gentle consequences for problem behaviour

The study recommended that this evidence based class, be expanded from Wales to the
rest of the UK, making it available for all parents who need it, stating that the Sure Start
programme has not yet produced results as good as these in England.
A lack of effectiveness in England has been suggested by a University of Durham study
which suggested that Sure Start was ineffective at improving results in early schooling.[16][17]
Although early evaluations did not find Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) to have been
particularly effective, by 2008 the National Evaluation of Sure Start (NESS) was able to
conclude "For the time being, it remains plausible, even if by no means certain, that the
differences in findings across the first and second phases of the NESS Impact Study reflect
actual changes in the impact of SSLPs resulting from the increasing quality of service
provision, greater attention to the hard-to-reach and the move to Childrens Centres, as well
as the greater exposure to the programme of children and families in the latest phase of the
impact evaluation."[11] In 2010, robust research conducted by NESS demonstrated significant
effects of SSLPs on eight of 21 outcomes: two positive outcomes for children (lower BMIs
and better physical health), four positive outcomes for mothers and families (more
stimulating and less chaotic home environments, less harsh discipline, and greater life
satisfaction), and two negative outcomes (more depressive symptoms reported by mothers,
and parents less likely to visit schools for planned meetings).[6]
Government cuts to Sure Start
Cuts in funding from central government to local authorities in England led to fears that up to
250 Sure Start centres would close in 2011.[18] Secretary of State for Children, Schools and
Families, Michael Gove has admitted that funding for Sure Start has not been protected,[19]
though Children's Minister Sarah Teather said there was enough money available to
maintain existing children's centres.[18] A number of local councils announced cuts to their
Sure Start budgets,[20] and ministers said they want to refocus the scheme to help the most
disadvantaged families.[21]
Parents and mothers' groups protested against these cuts,[21] and took their campaign
directly to Downing Street.[22]