Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Sutton Trust’s Inequality in early years education report, published on 24 January 2024, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of establishing a national strategy for the reinvigoration of children’s centres.

The government’s Opportunity Mission aims to give all children the best start in life, breaking the link between young people’s background and future success.

This means supporting strong family relationships and stable home environments, providing access to family services that provide the right help at the right time, alongside quality early education.

Family hubs do great work to help families access vital services. The Autumn Budget 2024 included an announcement of £69 million to continue delivery of the existing network of family hubs for 2025/26. More than 400 family hubs opened under the existing programme, targeted at the most disadvantaged areas.

The department’s long term intention is to reform the early years system and improve family services to provide the foundation of opportunity and improved life chances for children.

The department is considering how best to achieve these aims under the terms of the subsequent muti-year spending review.