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Dept for Education and Skills

Answer

Mr. Prosser: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the effect of the Sure Start programme in Dover. [216822] Margaret Hodge: The Dover Sure Start local programme has been performing very well since it started in September 2000, providing support to around 817 children and their families. It was reviewed in October 2004 where it was evidenced that the programme was well established in the community. It is demonstrating excellent engagement with the children's centres agenda and is currently working towards developing children's centre status for St. Radigunds. It is also contributing to the development of children's centres at The Ark Centre, Tower Hamlets; Buckland; and Sunshine Corner, Aylesham. The programme provides services for communities within St. Radigunds, Buckland and parts of Barton and Pineham. It sees all babies within two months of their birth and offers a wide range of services including: Sure Start befrienders; speech and language services; community health visiting; community midwifes; toy and equipment library; community shop; community psychiatric nursing; social worker; Playlink; Homestart; breakfast club; and daycare. The management board is chaired by a parent and there is strong parental involvement in the programme. The total amount of Sure Start revenue funding the programme will receive from 2000-06 will be £4,353,948. It has also received £1,288,517 capital grant. The programme has invested £715,000 of this money towards the creation of a multi-purpose building in St. Radigunds.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

431 c1776-7W;431 c1772-3W; 216822

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Sure Start programme Dover

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk