Surestart should be reistated for the good of the nation

[Wavywoo]

The report out today that shows the longterm benefits of the Surestart programme confirms what supporters of the scheme said all along.

The government have grossly mismanaged public resource, and done children and families a massive diservice, in defunding Surestart, and yet claiming to have spent several times more on Early Years.

It is important to recognise that Sure Start was substantially different from nursery provision, which cannot replace the valuable support that the centres offered to the whole family, as many posters have testified.

The aim of the government's children's provision is about getting parents back to work, and not about supporting families who are struggling with parenting, which is what is needed.

The thing is, because she has to be politically neutral, all she can do is offer platitudes and give politicians an excuse to have photo opportunities with her and pretend they are doing something. She has apparently been working in this for 5 years. What tangible results has she come up with, apart from being photographed with little kids? It's counterproductive to have some Palace official dump her into something so important when what is needed is money, resources and commitment, not a Princess telling us something we already know.

@DramaLlamaBangBang Oh, I agree. I just think it's ironic that it seems to be possible to think the PoW is wonderful, but think that her supposed main focus is unnecessary.

Sure start was a lifeline when my dc were babies/toddlers. Cheap/free activities only a short bus ride away. We really struggled with money then (still do actually) so having somewhere to go that the dc enjoyed and where I could meet other mum's was great. Also made me not feel guilty at not being able to afford things like baby sensory and things like that as the children's centre did their own version for £1 per family.

I do agree that the provision for teenagers, especially teenagers with mental health problems is horrific. And there is no support for parents of teenagers either.

Another unseen benefit was allowing different sections of society to interact with one another and find common ground. A non-sleeping baby is a non-sleeping baby no matter how much money you have or don't have. Those centres formed a community that went across societal lines that are rarely crossed in the UK and ALL the children benefited.

But they were criticised for that too. "People" felt they were being used by too many people who didn't really need them. I agree, that was their strength, or one of them.

I agree - early parenthood is a great leveller! Surestart lead me to me lots if people I wouldn't have done otherwise, and some have popped up variously in the intervening years eg school, scouts etc. One of my children has some behavioural problems and it has taken my village to bring him up in many ways!

Surestart was the original government project aimed at areas of very high deprivation. It evolved into the children's centres, funded by the government but run by the local council, and the idea was every new parent would have one within pram pushing distance of their home. It's great that the original project has made a long-term impact, and such a shame that they were mostly closed.
We used to get child tax credits around that time too which stopped when the government changed the goal posts. I wonder if that helped too?

Dbirk
Another unseen benefit was allowing different sections of society to interact with one another and find common ground. A non-sleeping baby is a non-sleeping baby no matter how much money you have or don't have. Those centres formed a community that went across societal lines that are rarely crossed in the UK and ALL the children benefited.
@Wavywoo

This really resonated with me, I still remember the feeling of walking in to a sure start centre with as a very overwhelmed new and young mum.. I felt so judged by everyone in my family and this lovely sure start worker made me a cup of tea and within a couple of hours I'd met people who although weren't young and single like me where still just as knackered and lonely. I'm still friends with some of those women 20 years later. Our paths would probably never have crossed without that group.
I think it's a real shame, they are a huge benefit to communities.

The early years are so important, it's a travesty that Sure Start centres were closed. It was an amazing scheme, a lifeline for mums with PND and ours had appointments for parents who needed more support, all of that is gone now. Studies have shown that investing in the early years pays dividends in terms of health, life chances, crime. It saves more money elsewhere than it costs. Why aren't we investing in what is important?