Effects of Sure Start local programmes on children and families: early findings from a quasi-experimental, cross sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of Sure Start local programmes (SSLPs) on children and their families. To assess whether variations in the effectiveness of SSLPs are due to differences in implementation.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental cross sectional study using interviews with mothers and cognitive assessment of children aged 36 months who speak English.


METHODS
Socially deprived communities in England: 150 communities with ongoing SSLPs and 50 comparison communities.


METHODS
Mothers of 12,575 children aged 9 months and 3927 children aged 36 months in SSLP areas; mothers of 1509 children aged 9 months and 1101 children aged 36 months in comparison communities.


METHODS
Mothers' reports of community services and local area, family functioning and parenting skills, child health and development, and verbal ability at 36 months.


RESULTS
Differences between SSLP areas and comparison areas were limited, small, and varied by degree of social deprivation. SSLPs had beneficial effects on non-teenage mothers (better parenting, better social functioning in children) and adverse effects on children of teenage mothers (poorer social functioning) and children of single parents or parents who did not work (lower verbal ability). SSLPs led by health services were slightly more effective than other SSLPs.


CONCLUSIONS
SSLPs seem to benefit relatively less socially deprived parents (who have greater personal resources) and their children but seem to have an adverse effect on the most disadvantaged children. Programmes led by health services seem to be more effective than programmes led by other agencies.
Belsky
Jay
J
Institute for the Study of Children, Families and Social Issues, Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1B 3RA. j.belsky@bbk.ac.uk
Melhuish
Edward
E
Barnes
Jacqueline
J
Leyland
Alastair H
AH
Romaniuk
Helena
H
D002657:Child Development; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D004739:England; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010700:Phonetics; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015397:Program Evaluation