Community calls for return of Sure Start

Community has voiced its support for the full reintroduction of the Sure Start programme in England.

Sure Start set up one-stop shop centres in disadvantaged areas, bringing together early years, health and family support services into one streamlined operation. The programme was subsequently subject to cuts by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, with over 1400 Sure Start centres forced to close from 2010 onwards.

In contrast, under a Labour government in Wales, the equivalent Flying Start scheme has been expanded. Flying Start is expected to support more than 9500 extra two-year-olds by 2025 thanks to a further £46m investment announced last year.

Community’s National Officer for Education and Early Years, Helen Osgood, said:

“Community is absolutely behind the call for the re-opening of Sure Start Centres across England. I myself took part in demonstrations outside Liverpool Town Hall in 2012, alongside I saw the devastation that the announcement of the closures of the centre’s, caused to parents and young children. The centres benefitted so many children over a number of years, and their closure was a tragedy that has left a real gap in our communities which has never been filled.”

“Recent research from the Institute of Fiscal Studies, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, demonstrated how the expansion of the Sure Start programme from 1999 to 2010 had long-term, far-reaching benefits. The evidence from the study demonstrated that GCSE results for disadvantaged children were ‘greatly improved’ by engagement with Sure Start. Moreover, children eligible for free school meals who lived near a Sure Start centre, saw increased performance at GCSE by three grades –  six times higher than children not eligible for FSM.

“Re-opening Sure Start centres will ensure that we have a vision for all children, whatever their background, so that they can realise their potential and raise their aspirations in life.”

Community’s spokesperson lead for Early Years, Letita McCalla, said:

“Our members in the early years sector see first-hand how children in the most disadvantaged areas struggle to get the positive start in life they desperately need. Sure Start was both a radical and common-sense approach to tackling that problem, and the closure of so many Sure Start centres across England has been a preventable tragedy. Over a decade on we are still dealing with the consequences of the Coalition government’s decision to cut Sure Start, and Gordon Brown is absolutely right that this was a political choice which set back opportunities for millions of children’s futures.

“Our members in England, and the children they support, would benefit hugely from the re-opening of Sure Start centres across the country – just as children in Wales have continued to benefit from an expanded Flying Start programme. Children are the future, and if we don’t invest in them now we will all rue the missed opportunity in years to come.”

Community is the union for education and early years professionals: representing teachers, headteachers, education, school support staff and early years staff. With over fifty years’ experience, we represent members and campaign to improve conditions for education and early years professionals. We are a modern trade union, campaigning for a better working world.

If you are a member of Community and need advice or support, please contact our Service Centre at help@community-tu.org or on 0800 389 6332.