Sure Start - A Parents Haven (Sure Start Program)

Member Name: mum2boys82

Product:	Sure Start Program
Date:	27/08/08 (170 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great staff,great activities for the kids

Disadvantages: Not enough funding

Taken from the website www.surestart.gov.uk:

"Sure start is a government programme to deliver the best start in life for every child by bringing together early education, child care, health and family support".

So what does this mean?
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Basically the government were worried about children entering the school system at 5 years of age with varying degrees of ability. Finding children from poorer backgrounds to have less ability with speech, and seemingly more family problems they set about trying to even the field for all children.

In June 2008 there were 2907 Sure Start Centres across the UK. By 2010 they aim to have 3500 centres across the country.

So how do they work?
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Sure Start Centres work in many different areas with the local children and their families (primarily with children under 5 years of age).

I have 3 local centres in Aspley, Nottingham and many more are spread around the Nottingham area. Some of the centres have early education specialities which take on 3 and 4 year olds for their 12.5 hours of nursery childcare a week.

They also run lots of playgroup sessions involving singing and making things and a heavy encouragement of healthy eating.

Each centre runs separate activities so you would have to contact your local centre to see what is on offer. My local centres offer free lunch for the children at least once a week (this often consists of home made vegetable soup), messy play sessions (painting, playing with jelly, shaving foam, cooked pasta etc), mothers groups (Creche provided whilst mummy has some 'me time') and many more.

The staff at the centres are always helpful, offering advice when you need it most. Although some of the staff are volunteers this does not mean that the service you get is any less. They often offer you the chance to train to be a volunteer so you can help out other people with families. Training courses are run at regular intervals, things such as basic maths and English leading onto GCSE qualifications for those who may have missed out at school.

What else is on offer?
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Most centres have a baby clinic at least once a week as they are aware that not all people can get to their doctors surgery for getting baby weighed very easily, sometimes it is easier to pop into a sure start centre and then stay for the next play session.

The Toy library is also offered through lots of sure start centres. The Toy Library is a special group, separate from sure start, they offer you a catalogue of toys that you can borrow free of charge. You can only borrow a set amount of toys at once but it is entirely free!

Health clinics, things such as free pregnancy tests and free contraceptives are obtainable and advice on what to do. Also money advice can usually be obtained through an independent advisor/group run at centres (again check with your local centre what they have to offer).

My local centres were even open for the summer holidays (although on a limited range of dates), which meant that my children still got to do interesting things over the holiday, with even a day trip organised to a near-by park with great activities involved.

I couldn't recommend the work done at these centres any more highly. I regret to report that funding for these groups is limited and I have seen a decline in the number of staff around, but they are all about the children, whilst being a great support to the parents.

Summary: If you have one close to you go and check it out!