Last week's long-awaited interim findings from the National Evaluationof Sure Start appeared to confirm the scheme is not yet reaching some ofthe most disadvantaged families. And in some cases, children in SureStart areas were faring worse than peers outside them.
Researchers from London University's Birkbeck College said this could bebecause families "with more human capital" were making the most of whatwas on offer while groups like teen, lone and unemployed parents werebeing squeezed out. They concluded: "Efforts may need to be made toensure that those most in need are not (inadvertently) deprived ofassistance."
However, the evaluation reports also highlighted many good aspects ofSure Start and professionals, parents and ministers have leapt to thescheme's defence, saying it is too early to judge it properly.
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