Nursery World - To the Point - The dangers of localism for Sure Start

The Department for Education has just published a consultation on statutory guidance for Sure Start Children's Centres. I strongly encourage all Nursery World readers to go online and give your own comments on the guidance by 1 June, says Naomi Eisenstadt.

Yet again, the Department has come out with a document that is really encouraging. It is child-centred, has an appropriate balance between services for all children and specifically targeted services for those families that need extra support, and frequently refers to the wider duties of local authorities to reduce inequalities.

The problem, as always, is how local authorities will interpret the finely crafted text. In the section on identifying families in greatest need of support, there is a sensible description of services delivered with graduated intensity according to needs: a mix of universal and specialist services offered to all prospective parents, parents of babies, and parents of young children.

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