Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to complete the review of the Children’s Centre Programme.

Our priority on improving outcomes at age five for our most disadvantaged children is set out in our social mobility action plan, ‘Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential’. To do this we want to see local areas forming strong, deep partnerships across different agencies, and commissioning services that will have the biggest impact on closing the development gap.

The social mobility action plan sets a clear direction for all those who have a part to play, including those responsible for children’s centres services. Our focus now is on delivering this, including through £10 million investment to build the evidence base for what works, and the £8.5 million Early Years Social Mobility Peer Review Programme, working with the Local Government Association. Through peer reviews and additional support, the programme will spread practice and help councils looking to close the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers. These programmes will inform the next steps in our strategy to close the development gap, including considering any future consultation on the role of children’s centres.