Nursery World - Editor's view (142)

Some interesting issues are raised by the guidance on developing children's centres which has just been published by the Sure Start unit (see News, page 4). Not least is the expectation that more than half the provision to reach 650,000 pre-school children will spring from the existing Sure Start programme. In fact, it is made clear that there will be very little new-build for children's centres - Neighbourhood Nurseries and the Early Excellence Centres will also form the basis for development. Childcare sector leaders will be keen to ensure that there is no double-counting going on when figures are released for numbers of children being served.

Childcare sector leaders will be keen to ensure that there is no double-counting going on when figures are released for numbers of children being served.

The guidance seems to cast some doubt on the future of the Early Excellence programme, pointing out that settings outside the designated areas for children's centres will not be able to access funding and saying that further guidance on the next stage for EECs will be released in due course.

Those EECs outside the 20 per cent most deprived wards will feel in limbo as a result.

Nursery schools receive a boost, however, with a strong message to local authorities that rather than closing them down, their quality provision should be built on to offer the full children's centre service.

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