Last week the Government published new practice guidance on children'scentres, which emphasised the importance of planning services to matchlocal needs, outreach work, and monitoring service usage.
This coincided with the publication of early findings from the NationalEvaluation of Sure Start, which suggests the most disadvantaged childrenactually do less well in Sure Start areas.
The guidance stresses lessons must be learnt from the evaluation andincludes sections on minority ethnic families and teenage parents, twoof the groups found to have fared worst.
Helen Ashdown, head of Sure Start for Hertfordshire County Council,which has to create 44 new children's centres by 2008, said the guidancewas "very helpful" and welcomed an emphasis on improving outreach workwith examples of good practice.
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