Sure Start kids "better behaved"

Children living in areas with Sure Start Children’s Centres behave better and more independently, according to an independent report.

Parents in those areas were found to have provided a better home learning environment for their children, preparing them to make the most of their talents and do well at school.

However, the report’s authors say that the positive effects found were ‘modest’.

Government ministers have now announced plans to extend Sure Start, which now has almost 2,500 centres that work with nearly 2 million families.

Additional funding will allow for more outreach workers in disadvantaged areas.

New ways to reach minority communities will also be explored.

The ongoing national evaluation report into Sure Start is being conducted by the Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Social Issues at Birbeck, University of London.

Another review into the same families and children will take place in two year’s time.