In April of this year the DfE published its Business Plan for Sure Start children's centres, setting out a vision for reform. In this it committed to working with local authorities to improve their accountability arrangements and increase the use of 'evidence based interventions, so that state support goes to services which have proven effectiveness'.
It is interesting to note that when this was published in April the Government stated that 'the Early Intervention Grant contains enough money to maintain a network of children's centres so they are accessible to all, and supporting children in greatest need'.
However, things have moved on since then. The sector now understands that the EIG is being top-sliced to pay for free nursery places for two-year-olds, with the allocation for this coming out of next year's, ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant.
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