Nursery World - Parents praise Sure Start programmes

Lewisham EYDCP in south London celebrated the success of its five Sure Start programmes - Bellingham, Downham, Evelyn, Grinling Gibbons and Honor Oak - at a special conference led by local parents last week. Parents from Sure Start Honor Oak attributed their success to an innovative double-decker Playbus. As well as providing a sessional mobile play service, the bus gives parents access to health and midwifery services and employment advice with Job Centre Plus.

Parents from Sure Start Honor Oak attributed their success to an innovative double-decker Playbus. As well as providing a sessional mobile play service, the bus gives parents access to health and midwifery services and employment advice with Job Centre Plus.

Local grandmother Pauline Crawshaw said, 'For many local people the highlight of the week is when the Playbus drives up. They find a warm welcome and there are so many opportunities for children to indulge in imaginative play.'

In Sure Start Evelyn, there are now Somali, Vietnamese and Kosovan workers to meet the needs of the culturally diverse community.

One mother said, 'I came to live in the UK ten years ago and Sure Start makes me feel like part of the community. I am now a board member - not just a mother stuck pushing a pram.'

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included