To the Point - The dangers of localism for Sure Start

Yet again, the Department has come out with a document that is really encouraging. It is child-centred, has an appropriate balance between services for all children and specifically targeted services for those families that need extra support, and frequently refers to the wider duties of local authorities to reduce inequalities.

The problem, as always, is how local authorities will interpret the finely crafted text. In the section on identifying families in greatest need of support, there is a sensible description of services delivered with graduated intensity according to needs: a mix of universal and specialist services offered to all prospective parents, parents of babies, and parents of young children.

However, the word on the street is of increased targeting, raised entry barriers for particular services, and unhelpful distinctions between the more and less needy. Underlying this is a truly risky assumption that most poor families have additional risk factors associated with 'bad' parenting. This is profoundly disrespectful to families living in poverty and struggling to get by, assuming they are likely to be bad parents. It also means many mothers and fathers who are not poor, but may be struggling with parenthood, will not get an appropriate service. We know that poverty increases the likelihood of other problems including mental ill health, depression, drug addiction, teen parenthood and criminality. But we also know these problems also appear in families who are not poor.

The vast majority of families need advice at some point. This may be about maternity and paternity leave entitlements, childcare costs, availability and quality, breastfeeding, weaning on to solids, appropriate reading and play activities for young children, or more serious problems like depression, domestic violence or alcohol abuse. All three of these more serious problems are found in families of all social classes and income groups. The importance of children's centres delivered as a universal offer is the assurance that any mother or father feels comfortable asking for support, and that all parents are in contact in some way with a service. Clearly, a principle of early intervention, which the Government strongly supports, is to provide help before problems escalate. Children's centres are incredibly well placed, if they are properly resourced, to provide that early help.

ADDRESSING WORKLESSNESS

My second major concern with the new guidance is the failure to focus on employment support.While Job Centre Plus is mentioned as a crucial partner, the suggested activities are not well balanced in terms of being childor adult-focused. Indeed, adult-focused activities seem to be mainly about parenting programmes, and not about the fundamental issue facing most needy families: lack of money due to worklessness. The Government is wise to make every effort to make work pay, and to consider reforms to benefits that will improve the lot of families in work on low wages. However, parents of young children need both affordable childcare and work-related skills. If children's centres are concentrating on the most disadvantaged families, the most common risk factors in this group will be low educational attainment, no qualifications, and worklessness. Key partners in adult and continuing education could play a major role in helping to address the skills deficits that are a barrier to employment. Many children's centres already have these partnerships and work closely with local adult education providers. The DfE, working with DWP, should be doing more to encourage such arrangements.

AT MERCY OF LOCAL DECISIONS

The emphasis in this guidance on local consultation on both closures to children's centres and major changes to service provision is to be welcomed. But again, this will be subject to various interpretations at local level, and legal challenges on the failure to properly consult are likely to be rare. The best centres will encounter opposition to closure or reduced services. The less good will have less chance of improvement.

While the draft Guidance for Sure Start Children's Centres paints an excellent picture of what a centre should do, local decision-making and local finance will make implementation very difficult indeed.