Senior Labour figures, including Gordon Brown, David Blunkett, Estelle Morris, and Alan Johnson, are calling for the revival of the 'life-transforming' Sure Start program, highlighting its significant benefits for disadvantaged children and the economy. Research from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) supports these claims, showing that Sure Start had a 'big positive effect' on the grades of disadvantaged children, particularly those eligible for free school meals, boosting their GCSE results by three grades. Critics describe the closure of Sure Start centers under Conservative policies as 'callous Conservative vandalism' and 'deliberate and cynical destruction', causing long-term harm to children's lives and future costs to the Treasury. The program's potential for improving health outcomes, aiding parents/carers in returning to work, and its role in 'levelling up communities' have been highlighted as reasons for its reinstatement.
Sure Start was a really good policy. It helped parents/carers back into work, boosted the economy and above all was really beneficial to children. Gordon Brown, David Blunkett, Estelle Morris and Alan Johnson are right. Of course it should be brought back. https://t.co/hjIwkkyta0
Hugely important piece on how Sure Start truly levelled up communities. Every day I see the damage done by Govts of the last 14 years to the long term health & wellbeing of the nation by destroying this programme through the political choice of austerity. #SureStart https://t.co/FE7zalDmS5
Regularly anecdotal but always powerful - the positive impact of Sure Start. It's now great to see the IFS analysis that proves it. Kids eligible for free school meals and had access to a Sure Start centre boosted their GCSE results by three grades. That means a job + livelihood. https://t.co/6mHoRvb9fn
The deliberate and cynical destruction of Sure Start stands out - against stiff competition - as one of the worst long-term policy decisions taken by a British government in recent decades. https://t.co/jgAGcgssbg
New @TheIFS report out today on Sure Start, which I've been working on since I started here. We've found Sure Start had a big positive effect on disadvantaged children's grades throughout school, with much larger effects coming from centres with more funding. Have a read 👇 https://t.co/JpNDn7Z5V5
This is extremely important research. It's v difficult for initiatives the scale of Sure Start to achieve this level of success. A travesty it's been eroded by cuts that have not only blighted children's lives but stored up future cost for the Treasury. https://t.co/eg64tKbE5S
Shutting Sure Start and other children’s centres was callous Conservative vandalism that will permanently blight lives. Reviving and improving the successful programme should be a Labour priority. https://t.co/09Wq1Ashe0
“Sure Start generated substantial benefits for disadvantaged children throughout their education, helping to close the disadvantage gap in attainment.” A policy no brainer, throw in well evidenced health benefits surely a must do ? https://t.co/Rq0nTRrsJ6
Senior Labour figures call for ‘life-transforming’ Sure Start policy https://t.co/gklfoe07AM