10 Children’s Centres are now open in Swindon – up from just 3 two years ago. 

Anne Snelgrove, Labour MP for South Swindon, welcomed the news and said that 8730 children under five and their families now have access to the range of services Sure Start offers.

Sure Start Children’s Centres are a one-stop shop for families and children under five. They offer easy access to a range of services including early years learning, childcare, family health services, and advice and support for parents. A recent independent evaluation report found that Sure Start was having a positive impact on the lives of children and families.

The Government this week announced that its target to have 2,500 Children’s Centres open across the country by the start of this month has been beaten – with 2,906 Children’s Centres open in England by 31 March 2008. By 2010 there will be 3,500 Children’s Centres, one for every community.

Anne said:

"While ten years ago there were no Children's Centres, today there are 10 in Swindon offering services to some 8730 families and children.  I know from visiting Children’s Centres in my constituency – such as West Swindon Children’s Centre and Parks and Walcot Children’s Centre – the big difference it has made to so many families in our area and how much parents rely on the services Sure Start provides.

"As every parent knows, the earliest years of a child's life are critical to their future development. It's also a time when parents need advice and support. That’s why this Labour Government has made investing in Sure Start, high quality childcare and nursery education a big priority. We’ve introduced an entitlement to a free nursery place for every three and four year old – and 4615 children in Swindon are benefiting today.

“But while Labour will continue investing in Sure Start, the Tories will cut its funding by £200 million each year. Under Labour Sure Start will soon be a permanent and universal service for all families and children under five in every community in England, but that would be put at risk if the Tories get their way.”

Children’s Secretary Ed Balls added:

"Congratulations to everybody who has helped to get all the new Children’s Centres in Swindon off the ground, including Sure Start staff and all the volunteers who help out. While the Tories want to cut £200 million per year from Sure Start, Labour will continue to invest in Sure Start in Swindon and across the country. The range of services offered by Sure Start are being expanded and there will soon be a Children’s Centre in every community.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

·                    David Cameron has said he will cut £200 million per year from Sure Start in order to employ more health visitors instead. They claim the savings can be made by axing the additional outreach workers to be recruited from this year. However, the Government is spending an extra £79 million per year on outreach workers – not £200 million as the Tories say. This will mean a further £121 million of cuts to Sure Start each year – on top of the cuts to outreach workers.

·                    The policy document ‘Helping New Families’ says the Conservatives can make a saving of “£200 million per year, with which the Government are intending to pay for a new cadre of ‘outreach’ workers from Children’s Centres”. http://www.conservatives.com/getfile.cfm?file=document-healthvisitors-2008&ref=GENERALFILE/3585&type=pdf

For more information please contact

7 Little London Court

Old Town

Swindon

SN1 3HY

tel. 01793 615444