Other policy
Policy: Sure Start
13 Feb 2004
Sure Start children’s centres
Sure Start is the cornerstone of the Government’s drive to tackle child poverty and social exclusion in England.
Aims of Sure Start children’s centres
The aim of Sure Start children’s centres is to improve outcomes for all children. The five key outcomes set out in the Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme and the Children Act 2004 are:
- Being healthy
- Staying safe
- Enjoying and achieving
- Economic well-being
- Making a positive contribution
An important aim of the national children’s centre strategy is to reduce the inequalities between the most disadvantaged children and the rest of the community by ensuring all families receive an appropriate level of support that meets their needs.
For more information visit www.surestart.gov.uk
A timeline for the development of Sure Start children’s centres
2010 There will be 3,500 children’s centres, one for every community.
2009 In May 2009, the 3,000th children’s centre opened in England and ministers announced that all centres would be known as Sure Start children’s centres, accompanied by a national awareness campaign. Sure Start children’s centres will be given statutory legal basis and established as part of the universal services available for children from birth to five years old and their families.
2008–10 Phase three children’s centres: The newest centres will provide improved access to services for families living in less disadvantaged and more affluent areas. All Phase 3 centres will offer a less intensive level of support than those Phase one and two centres serving families in the 30 per cent most disadvantaged areas. Local authorities have greater flexibility in deciding what services should be provided in the more affluent areas and this must be based on an assessment of local needs.
2006–2008 Phase two children’s centres: This phase ensured that all of the most disadvantaged families now had access to children’s centre services, that is the 30 per cent most disadvantaged areas (as defined by ODPM Super Output Areas). These centres all provide the ‘Core Offer’. Other centres were also developed to serve families outside the most disadvantaged areas.
2004–2006 Phase one children’s centres: These first children’s centre were developed to serve families in the 20 per cent most disadvantaged wards (based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000), often these were where the original SSLPs had taken place. These centres provide the ‘Core Offer’; this is the first model of service delivery (Core offer explained below).
2004 The first Sure Start children’s centres were set up as service hubs where children under five years old and their families could receive integrated services and information. Sure Start centres were built on initiatives like SSLPs, Neighbourhood nurseries and Early Excellence Centres. Other existing providers, such as maintained nursery schools, primary schools and other local early years provision, including voluntary and private settings, also provided the basis for some Sure Start children’s centres.
2003 By this time there were 524 SSLPs serving the most deprived communities. Each programme met the needs of the community in which it was based as such programmes differed greatly.
1997 Sure Start was established and within two years the first Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) were set up. Their remit was to bring together early education, childcare, health and family support for the benefit of young children (birth to three years) living in disadvantaged areas and their parents.
Late 1990s Early Excellence Centres (EECs) were established to bring together early education, day care, social support and adult learning. By autumn 2003 there were 107 centres, with recognised strengths in effective training strategies, men's involvement in services, special needs resources and support for young parents. EECs paved the way for children's centres and extended schools, as well as aspects of the concept of children's services as set out in the Green Paper, Every Child Matters.
