Nursery World - Dire forecast for Sure Start study

Sure Start practitioners have been warned to prepare themselves for a media onslaught when the next national Sure Start evaluation is published at the end of October. Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee sounded the alarm last week before delegates at the London borough of Newham's Early Start conference.

Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee sounded the alarm last week before delegates at the London borough of Newham's Early Start conference.

She said, 'There is about to be a major setback which could endanger the wider support for Sure Start unless those at the forefront stand ready to defend it.' She said the study would find that there are 'virtually no good outcomes for Sure Start children' and that teenage mothers appear to have done worse in Sure Start areas.

The report is believed to be the delayed Early findings on the importance of Sure Start local findings and children's development and family function: final report, cross section study of nine- and 36-month-old children and families.

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