Ironing out inequalities: A London case study By Abena Dadze-Arthur

The study Sure Start Local Programmes: Integrating early education, childcare, health and family support to enhance life chances of disadvantaged children under 4 years Integrating early education, childcare, health and family support to enhance life chances of disadvantaged children under 4 years Evaluation of Sure Start, Themed study No 9: Review of Sure Start’s impact on BME communities, parents and children Review of Sure Start’s impact on BME communities, parents and children

A missed opportunity The Sure Start programme as a whole failed! The Sure Start programme as a whole failed! Involving BME communities in SSLPs tended to be: Involving BME communities in SSLPs tended to be: Underpinned by lack of government guidance and support Underpinned by lack of government guidance and support Ad hoc Ad hoc ‘Colour-blind’ ‘Colour-blind’ Not sustained Not sustained Not structurally integrated Not structurally integrated

A best practice case: Myatt’s Field Angel Town, Brixton Area profile: Socio-economic situation Socio-economic situation Diversity and difference Diversity and difference Gender and family structure Gender and family structure Local Sure Start Programme: History History Structure Structure

What made it work? Gathering, analysing and monitoring local data Gathering, analysing and monitoring local data Community-based consultation – barriers? Community-based consultation – barriers? Appropriate departmental support Appropriate departmental support Location & access Location & access Leadership & organisational culture Leadership & organisational culture Parental involvement in governance & delivery Parental involvement in governance & delivery Staff from the community Staff from the community Race awareness training Race awareness training Effective publicity Effective publicity Targeted services Targeted services Joining-up services Joining-up services Other parallel local programmes Other parallel local programmes Language and translation Language and translation Gender divide: Involving men Gender divide: Involving men Outreach & home visits Outreach & home visits Consciously working across ethnic boundaries Consciously working across ethnic boundaries

Government’s response Updated Practice Guidance for Sure Start Children’s Centres (November 2006) Updated Practice Guidance for Sure Start Children’s Centres (November 2006) Consortium ‘Together for children’ supports LAs Consortium ‘Together for children’ supports LAs Additional resources for 2 extra outreach workers per children’s centre (2008) Additional resources for 2 extra outreach workers per children’s centre (2008) Performance management framework to identify families at risk Performance management framework to identify families at risk Joined working between the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Joined working between the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Childcare Act, to commence on 1 April 2008, places new duty on LAs Childcare Act, to commence on 1 April 2008, places new duty on LAs

What do you think? Do the study’s findings echo your experiences? Do the study’s findings echo your experiences? Is the government responding appropriately? Is the government responding appropriately? What needs to be done to make Children’s Centres a success? What needs to be done to make Children’s Centres a success?

The summary or report can be… Downloaded on: Or Orderd from: Prolog Prolog Tel: quoting reference numbers NESS/2007/SF/020 and NESS/2007/FR/020 quoting reference numbers NESS/2007/SF/020 and NESS/2007/FR/020

Thank you! Abena Dadze-Arthur Tel: