Table of contents
Sure Start Children’s Centres were introduced in 1999 to support children aged up to the age of five and their families living in disadvantaged areas in England.
The Sure Start initiative inspired Flying Start in Wales, Best Start in Scotland and Sure Start in Northern Ireland.
Sure Start along with the other programmes aims to enhance the life chances for young children growing up in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and provide equal opportunity to early learning and childcare.
This is because children in these communities are at risk of doing poorly at school, having trouble with peers and authority which can lead to them leaving school early and unemployment.
What is a Sure Start Children’s Centre?
Sure Start Children’s Centres help parents to learn parenting skills and support children’s social and emotional early years development as well as families’ health and wellbeing.
Some nurseries are part of the Sure Start programme, providing additional services to further support children’s early years. The programme offers different services, including the Sure Start Maternity Grant which is a one-off payment to help towards the costs of having a baby. In Scotland, this is called Pregnancy and Baby Payment.
The government-led Sure Start Children’s Centres have supported many young children and their parents, with targeted early years support and other services.
A Sure Start Children’s Centre is linked to maternity services and provides family health and support services, early years’ learning as well as full and part-time day care for children up to five years old or pre-school age.
What support services they provide depends on the needs of children and their families. They know that many parents feel anxious about their new caring responsibilities and that looking after a growing child is a huge task.
You may be a first-time mum or dad, or you are unsure of what to do or what help is available. The centres are there for you with any questions or concerns you may have.
Sure Start Benefits
What support do Sure Start Children’s Centres offer?
Sure Start Children’s Centres offer a variety of advice and support, including:
- Parenting
- Antenatal services
- Managing money
- Family support
- Benefits
- Training and employment
- Child development, such as help with speech and communication
- Breastfeeding
- Activities during school holidays
- Nutrition and healthy eating
- Finding local SEND services
A Sure Start Centre can also help you to find a childcare place, for example at a nursery.
How to find a Sure Start Children’s Centre near you
To find a Sure Start nursery or children’s centre where you are, click on the relevant country below.
Children’s Centres are there for you from the moment you know you are expecting a baby and can support you through the pregnancy up until your child starts school.
Since 2010, 1,416 Sure Start centres in England have shut. They reduced in number from 3,620 in 2010 to 2,204 in 2023.
The government is working with local authorities across England to roll out Best Start Family Hubs. It aims to ensure family hubs improve families’ access to services and will focus on early help and support for families and children, including support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
What help can Best Start Family Hubs give?
Best Start Family Hubs are being rolled out in England by the UK government to help parents access local, free, early years resources, activities for children, parenting classes and advice on early years development, health, housing issues and much more. To read about the services Best Start Family Hubs provide visit this article.
Related Articles
