Policy and Politics
Sure Start is protected under coalition agreement, but access could be restricted
Outreach services offered by Sure Start are to be cut in order to fund 4,200 more health visitors, it emerged last week as the new Government unveiled its full coalition agreement.
While funding for Sure Start, schools and further education has been ring-fenced until at least 2011, concerns have been raised that the Government plans to gradually restrict access to Sure Start services to disadvantaged families only.
The programme says that the Government will 'take Sure Start back to its original purpose of early intervention, increase its focus on the neediest families, and better involve organisations with a track record of supporting families'. It also intends to investigate ways of paying providers by results.
Neil Leitch, acting chief executive of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, said, 'There are areas of the agreement which will need to be fleshed out in the coming months, such as the coalition's stance on Sure Start. It will be interesting to see how the pledge to increase Sure Start's focus on the neediest families is put into practice. Will users be means tested, and is there likely to be a reduction in children's centres?'
The Criminal Records Bureau checking system and the vetting and barring scheme are also likely to undergo changes. The Government has pledged to review both schemes and 'scale them back to sensible levels'.
On education, the coalition agreement includes the Conservatives' flagship policy of allowing parents, teachers, charities and community groups to come together to start new schools.
Other policies include the Liberal Democrat promise to allocate extra funding to help disadvantaged children, which would come from outside of the schools budget, and giving schools more freedom over the curriculum.
Government plans for helping families include maintaining free nursery provision. No mention is made of ruling out the Tories' proposal to allow 'top-up fees' to be charged by struggling nurseries, although the LibDems had come out against such a move.
Other measures include an overhaul of the tax credits system to reduce fraud and overpayments, and more flexible parental leave.
The agreement also says the Government will strive for a greater gender balance in the early years workforce. It adds that it will tackle the commercialisation and sexualisation of children and simplify inspections of schools and the regulation of education.
The new Government has pledged to retain the previous administration's goal of ending child poverty in the UK by 2020.
A cross-departmental Government social justice committee has been set up to consider issues of poverty, equality and social justice. The committee is to be chaired by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, but will also include David Laws, chief secretary to the Treasury and former children's spokesman, as vice-chair, and children's minister Sarah Teather, and junior equalities minister Lynne Featherstone.
Further information
http://programmeforgovernment.hmg.gov.uk
SECTOR REACTIONS
Family and Parenting Institute
Dr Katherine Rake, chief executive of the Family and Parenting Institute, said, 'We are relieved to see this coalition agreement confirm that health visitors and Sure Start services will be defended. But the FPI believes Sure Start should benefit not just the poorest families.
'The promise to crack down on irresponsible advertising to children is a very welcome aspect of the agreement. The original Conservative manifesto pledge used stronger language, promising to "legislate if necessary" against those that commercialise childhood. Nonetheless, we can clearly anticipate progress on this issue under the new Government.'
Daycare Trust
Alison Garnham, chief executive of Daycare Trust, said, 'We warmly welcome the commitment from the coalition Government to support the free entitlement. It is a landmark policy that has meant for the first time nearly all children are starting school with the essential benefits of good quality early years education and care. Daycare Trust now calls on the Government to give us a cast-iron guarantee that extension of the free entitlement to 15 hours per week will go ahead in September as planned and that the universal provision of Sure Start children's centres will be protected. It is well documented that children do best in a mixed environment.'
Pre-school Learning Alliance
Neil Leitch, acting chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said, 'It is encouraging to see that the coalition agreement reflects both parties' recognition of the importance of early years education, supporting families and reducing disadvantage. We are also pleased that it remains committed to recruiting more men into the workforce and supporting a diverse range of providers to deliver the free entitlement.
The success of both pledges will depend on the Government listening to the sector's concerns over sustainability and continuing low pay and status. It is also interesting that the proposed reform of the Early Years Foundation Stage is not covered in this agreement.'
Voice
Philip Parkin, general secretary of education union Voice, said, 'We are pleased that the coalition Government has made a commitment to protect spending for 2010-11 on schools, Sure Start and 16-to-19 education, and that this has been made without the expected "bonfire of the quangos".
'However, reduced budgets for the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services, the Children's Workforce Development Council and the Training and Development Agency for Schools will inevitably affect their ability to provide key services and so will have an impact on the career development of head teachers, early years professionals and teachers when their training is more important than ever.'
