“The dismantling of Sure Start was an absolute travesty. Having a range of early years services available under one roof held countless benefits for children and their families. Sure Start centres not only improved educational outcomes but also health and wellbeing, particularly for disadvantaged children. As the IFS has noted, the scheme was not only hugely important for child development but also provided exceptional value for money.
“The government has got to learn from Sure Start’s successes and be bold enough to invest in early years services now in order to reap the undoubted benefits that will come down the line.”