The Department for Education confirmed that the Government was committed to keeping Sure Start universal but also wants to look at how to reach the neediest families.
Mr Osborne also announced a new early intervention grant that will streamline funding for the most vulnerable children and families.
However, Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said she was concerned that children’s centres would not receive all the funding they were entitled to.
‘Britain’s families will be relieved that Sure Start children’s centres will remain into the future, but with the ring fencing of the grant expected to be removed we will be watching closely to ensure local councils fulfil their obligations to provide sufficient centres,’ she said.
Ms Longfield urged local authorities to save money in the Sure Start budget ‘from administration and back-office functions not from front-line services.’
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