Helen Dent, chief executive of Family Action, said that early intervention and home-based family support played a crucial role but that in order to tackle disadvantage, Sure Start centres must remain universal.
She also warned the coalition Government against 'salami slicing and paring budgets' so that work would focus solely on the most vulnerable families.
Speaking at the eighth annual Sure Start conference in London, Ms Dent said that children’s centres could provide ‘a starting point for the Big Society’ because they had the capacity to reach 2.7 million children and their families every week. She said they offered a path for the ‘most vulnerable and disengaged families’ into the mainstream.
‘There is massive potential there, and working in the most deprived communities the best centres engage parents, build their confidence, get them participating in activities and feeling empowered to work in their communities through volunteering and peer support,’ said Ms Dent.
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
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
