Sure Start was a UK government programme, announced in 1998 by Chancellor Gordon Brown and launched by Tessa Jowell, that funded local Children's Centres to give disadvantaged children the best possible start in life through integrated early learning and childcare, parenting support, family health services and help with parental employment. It grew from 250 local programmes in 1999 to roughly 3,500 Children's Centres by 2010, but austerity-era cuts between 2010 and 2023 closed about 1,400 of them; in 2025 the government relaunched the initiative under the name Best Start, with 500 million pounds committed to expand to 1,000 hubs by 2028. Research has found that children living within 2.5 kilometres of a Sure Start centre for their first five years performed measurably better academically, and that the centres improved the mental health of mothers and family functioning.
Facts
Key ProvisionFunded local Children's Centres offering integrated early learning and childcare, parenting support, family health services and employment support for families with children under five. 1 Enacted / Adopted Year Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationSure Start (now Best Start), Overview and Historical Development sectionsQuote, Sure Start (now Best Start), Overview and Historical Development sections
giving children the best possible start in life
1. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationSure Start, Historical Development sectionQuote, Sure Start, Historical Development section
announced in 1998 by Chancellor Gordon Brown
1. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationSure Start, Key Provisions sectionQuote, Sure Start, Key Provisions section
health services, parenting support, early learning and childcare, and parental employment support
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