Child Development

Baroness Perry of Southwark Excerpts

Wednesday 16th September 2015 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

Children’s centres provide extremely valuable services, but I think we all agree that what is most important is the impact that these centres have on the ground and on the families that need them most. In Bromley, for instance, the number of centres did indeed reduce from 18 to six, but these centres are now located in the areas of greatest need and have universal and very targeted services. As a result, the number of families accessing this vital support has actually increased. We are now seeing a record number of families using children’s centres.

[Baroness Perry of Southwark (Con)]

Does my noble friend agree that this Government have done more to help very young children to have the maximum opportunity in their education than any Government in the past?

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

Indeed I agree with my noble friend. In fact, the Government are spending over £2 billion a year on early intervention. We have the pupil premium, which is helping to improve educational outcomes, and the early years pupil premium, which is helping to narrow the attainment gap for three and four year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds. Crucially, we now have a million more pupils in good or outstanding schools, because we know that education is key to the life chances of young people in this country.