Report RE: Sure Start Idiots

Original Post

by: timmylums

I am still unsure about the true ethos of some sure start children's centres as it appears that money is not a problem, resources are plentiful but are the children really the ones that benefit from all of this. My local centre provides excellent facilities  for local childminders and really does appear to promote this service but the on site child care seems to leave a lot to be desired, although it very welcoming, bright and spacious  it is  staffed  by many young people and volunteers with little motivation  and very few qualifications. knowledge of current policy and legislation is left to the centre manager and the nursery manager admits to knowing nothing about ECM etc.  the main  concern of the management appears to be how things look to visitors and not the actual welfare of the child. With regards to  childcare it  does not appear to reach out to the families that really need it but seems to attract the middle class families who don't want the children to get dirty having fun  and even insist that they are changed out of their own clothes at meal times for fear that they will stain their clothing.  I was under the impression that sure starts aim is to support parents and assist those that may otherwise struggle to  juggle family life and working life but many people who take advantage of the childcare are professional people who have been in employment longer than the centres have been in operation. Although some of the earlier establishments are reaching out to the correct areas of society they appear to be poorly funded and struggle to meet many of their proposed plans and targets. Is it my imagination or is it a case of the newer the centre, the more funding they receive and the better class of people they encourage to use the services.     

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