This has been achieved through the completion of 1,250 Sure Startchildren's centres. Children's minister Beverley Hughes said: "Before1997, parents of very young children had little or nothing in the way ofsupport. Now we are seeing all the services they want being offered intheir community and under one roof. I want Sure Start children's centresto be as much a part of the local community as the local school or GPsurgery."
The Government plans to open 3,500 centres by 2010.
Lucy Lloyd, director of communications at the Family & ParentingInstitute, said: "It's great news that Sure Start can offer this manyplaces but the real challenge is to make sure the quality of services onoffer is excellent."
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