Earlier this month, the Institute for Fiscal Studies published important new research into the health benefits of Sure Start.
Researchers found clear benefits of Sure Start Local Programmes in reducing hospital admissions by age 11, driven by reduced infections in the early years and fewer injuries in older children. Crucially, children in the poorest neighbourhoods were more likely to experience reduced hospital admissions – possibly because they were more likely to attend a centre.
The report found no effects of Sure Start on either childhood obesity or maternal mental health, although researchers stress that this does not mean there are no effects, just that they are not observable from the data available so far.
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