Sure Start Children's Centres have developed as highly regarded sources of support for parents, from those benefiting from support as their children grow and develop to struggling families in need of specialist help.
A million families use Sure Start Children's Centres, a third of whom are on the brink of crisis. While centres' budgets are more stretched than ever, demand for support is increasing.
The response to this increased pressure on Sure Start Children Centres' service delivery varies between local authority areas. There has been a notable increase in the number of areas consulting on the future of their centres, with some seeking to close or decommission centres. However, the majority of councils are looking to find creative ways to build their centres into a wider integrated approach and alignment of services across a broader policy area. For some, this will mean working more closely with health support; others are bringing more of their social care and work with Troubled Families around Sure Start Children's Centres. In some areas, the scope of centres is being broadened to work with children beyond the age of five.
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