Sure Start Programme: Finance

(asked on 5th June 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he is taking steps to increase funding for the Sure Start programme; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Nadhim Zahawi Portrait
Nadhim Zahawi
This question was answered on 10th June 2019

We welcome the recent report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies on the health effects of Sure Start. Across the key health outcomes for children and young people, children living in households in the lowest socio-economic groups have worse outcomes than other children. There are clear benefits to early investment and support through pregnancy and the early years. Children’s centres can play an important role in supporting families, but it is right local councils decide how to organise and provide services for families in their areas to meet local needs – whether this is through children’s centre buildings or delivering services in different ways.

Local authorities have a duty under the Childcare Act (2006) to ensure sufficient children’s centres to meet the needs of local families. Funding for children’s services (including children’s centres) is made available through the local government finance settlement. In addition, other government funding, including that for public health, adult skills training and troubled families may also be used locally to support services delivered wholly, or in part, through children’s centres. Children services funding for 2020-2021 and beyond will be determined in the Spending Review.

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