"It's like a kick in the stomach," says Liz Chapman, programme managerof Sure Start Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, responding to coverage of thelatest interim findings from the National Evaluation of Sure Start. Hersentiments reflect those of many Sure Start staff following reportscasting doubt on the programme's effectiveness (Children Now, 7 December2005-3 January 2006).
Gwyn Fields, programme manager for Firth Park and Shiregreen Sure Startin Sheffield, also admits to despairing when she reads headlinesclaiming Sure Start is failing. She fears it will make it harder forprogrammes to make a case for funding from local authorities and otherpartners.
With around 3bn in taxpayers' money invested in Sure Start, it'simportant to check that this money is well spent. However, the nature ofSure Start makes it hard to assess. Local programmes have flexibilityand can be very different so it's hard to identify patterns and it hasoften taken longer than expected for programmes to "bed in" and buildservices.
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