Evaluation highlights benefits of Sure Start areas for children

By Cathy Wallace Wednesday, 05 March 2008

Children in areas with a Sure Start Local Programme (SSLP) display a "SSLP effect", including positive behaviour, more independence and less chance of injuring themselves by accident, the latest National Evaluation of Sure Start has found.

Child with adult. Credit: Guzelian

But there is no evidence to show Sure Start is having a positive or negative effect on getting fathers involved with their children or on measuring mothers' wellbeing.

The evaluation, released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) yesterday (Tuesday), is part of an ongoing programme looking into the effects of Sure Start.

Previous studies have led to criticism that Sure Start is not reaching the most disadvantaged families.

But the latest research showed positive benefits for three-year-olds and their families living in areas served by a Sure Start, and no evidence of negative effects in disadvantaged groups, as highlighted in previous studies.

Parents were found to give children a better home learning environment, use support services and show better parenting.

Children were found to show more positive social behaviour and better self-regulation. They were more likely to have had immunisations and less likely to have an accidental injury.

But the DCSF was cautious about attributing the improvements solely to the effects of Sure Start. "Methodological differences could account for the differences between the earlier and current phases of the study," a DCSF spokeswoman said.

"Earlier findings were based on a comparison of children and families studied by the same research team at the same time. These findings are based on a comparison of children and families enrolled in different studies, with up to a two-year difference in data collection."

She added that this difference might account for the increased immunisation rates and reduced injury through accidents.

The DCSF spokeswoman concluded: "We recognise that while the report is positive, there is still a long way to go."

- www.cypnow.co.uk/doc.