LFoSS volunteer Aisha Afzali reports: On the 12th of July 2016 Parliament held a debate concerning ‘Early Years Development and School Readiness’. It was interesting to witness various perceptions and ideas on the matter. Whilst this matter is quite complex to summarise I would personally split this debate into three parts; initiatives, outcomes and reflections.
Finally all our pestering has paid off! At last the Government have relented and announced a timescale for their long-delayed consultation on the future of Children’s Centres. It’ll now be in Summer 2016 – exactly a year after it was first announced. Still: better late than never. Worryingly, rather than the inclusive, stand alone consultation we … More Hallejuah!
Oh dear. The Government has been caught red-handed trying to hide politically embarrassing new research on the impact of Sure Start. Politically embarrassing because this same Government has halved Sure Start funding and is constantly talking the programme down. Awkwardly the new Oxford University research proves once again that Sure Start provides a truly transformative service for … More Sure Start works. Government policy doesn’t.
If anyone had told me 5 years ago that I would be a single mum of 2, living miles away from my family and friends, not knowing a soul locally I would never have believed them. But it happened. Everyone said it would be hard. And it was…..and it is……far harder than I expected at … More Katherine’s Story
I came to a new town with my husband two years previous to having my first daughter at the age of 22. Even though I had a job I didn’t know many people. I was very happy about being pregnant and was feeling optimistic about the future and looking forward to my baby being born. … More Nikki’s Story
These are the experiences of a Children’s Centre that my daughter and I have had for the past year. This is my story. Unfortunately I was in an abusive marriage. Due to this I had to leave, even though my baby was only months old. I had no family support and had to stay with … More Nusrah’s Story
Labour Friends of Sure Start 