Speaking in parliament, Zahawi said there are too many variables involved to know for certain whether children do better at school as a result of accessing Sure Start provision.
"Due to the wide range of services that affect educational outcomes for young children, it is not possible to draw a causal link between children's centre services and a child's educational attainment."
Zahawi made the comments in response to a parliamentary question from Labour MP Dan Carden who asked what assessment he has made of the effect of the closure of Sure Start children's centres on the school readiness of children in Liverpool.
More than 1,000 children's centres across the country have closed or been downgraded since 2010.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
