A bombshell exploded in children's services last week. Sure Start, theflagship Government scheme for deprived under-fives and their families,has not made a difference, according to the latest research.
Findings from a leaked report due to be published in October showchildren in Sure Start areas have not fared any better than those inequivalent areas without Sure Start programmes. And it will reportedlyreveal that children of teenage parents have actually done worse. Theseunpublished results, together with other early findings, have promptedsome early years experts to say Sure Start has "failed" (Children Now,14-20 September).
Organisers unite for support
At first sight these findings may seem to signal a major threat - notonly to the national rollout of Sure Start through children's centres,but also to the Government's preventative work. But local councils andcharities running Sure Start programmes united this week to insist thatSure Start is working.
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