Sure Start is supported by strong evidence. We know from the EffectiveProvision of Pre-School Education project and other research that earlyintervention works.
We also know from our own evaluation that a majority of people who useSure Start centres get better at being parents. Most of the childrenhave shown positive results too. They are benefiting and, in the longterm, we will be able to see by how much. It is early days and lastweek's findings cover programmes when these children were only two tothree years old (see News, p2).
But it is right that we start scrutinising early and learn fromevaluation when it raises issues of concern. We must act to ensure SureStart works for the small minority that the evaluation suggests are notbenefiting, which is what our new guidance is about. We need to makesure each and every Sure Start is right for its local community, that itreaches those who need it most, and that the service is highquality.
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