Oral Answers to Questions

Valerie Vaz Excerpts

Monday 26th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Valerie Vaz (Walsall South) (Lab)]

6. What assessment she had made of the effect of the services offered by Sure Start children’s centres on the families who use those centres.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Mr Sam Gyimah)]

It is crucial that we evaluate the impact of children’s centres for families. The Department for Education has funded the “Evaluation of Children’s Centres in England” research, and three interim reports were published in June 2015. I expect the full impact report to be published later this year, with a consultation to follow on how children’s centres can have the greatest impact for local communities going forward.

[Valerie Vaz]

Palfrey Sure Start in my constituency has twice been rated outstanding for doing community-based work and culturally sensitive work, not just childcare. What further steps can be taken to ensure that it can continue to support parents with this vital work?

[Mr Gyimah]

The hon. Lady is an excellent and assiduous MP. I congratulate the Sure Start centre in her constituency on the excellent work it is doing. That highlights the fact that, to look at the future of children’s centres, we must look at more innovation and other ways of delivering services that work for local communities and satisfy local demand.