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Save Sure Start Children's Centres: Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Where will Sure Start Children’s Centres Be Based?
Up until 2006 Sure Start Children’s Centres were located where need was greatest – LAs focused on children living in wards that were among the most disadvantaged in the country. They also had the flexibility to develop centres in pockets of disadvantage outside of these most disadvantaged wards where similarly high levels of need existed.
From 2006–08, LAs developed children’s centres in the 30 per cent most disadvantaged Super Output Areas and moved beyond these into less disadvantaged areas. By 2010, there will be a children's centre in every community. For more information visit What's on offer.
What are Super Output Areas?
Super Output Areas (SOAs) are geographical units developed by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Each SOA has approximately the same number of households and population.
The Communities and Local Government (CLG) department has looked at the characteristics of the households living in each SOA and these characteristics make up the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). Each SOA is then ranked on how deprived it is.
The IMD for 2004 is presented at a SOA level, rather than ward level as with previous Indices. There are 32,482 SOAs compared with 8414 wards. This means that wards have been broken down into much smaller components, and the pockets of deprivation contained within wards have been captured in the latest index.
How will Children’s Centres develop?
Since the Children’s Centre Programme is very much about building on existing provision, very few new children's centres will be built from scratch.
How many children will benefit?
By 2006, Sure Start Children’s Centres were reaching over 650,000 pre-school children living in areas that are among the most disadvantaged in the country. This reach target refers to the number of children who might potentially use health or family support services provided by the individual centre.
By 2008, Sure Start Children’s Centre services were reaching all children under five and their families in the most disadvantaged areas, as well as many families outside these areas, with 2500 in total.
By 2010, Sure Start Children's Centre services should be reaching all children under five and their families in all areas, with 3500 in total.
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Last updated on 28/04/2009
