New details of Sure Start spending

A breakdown of the £4 billion government investment in Sure
Start by 2005-6 set out in the spending review was announced by
Charles Clarke, education secretary, writes Amy
Taylor
.

The detailed announcement includes the creation of more
childcare places and the establishment of children’s centres in
disadvantaged areas.

£1 billion of the Sure Start investment will be made in
2003-04, £1.3 billion in 2004-05 and £1.6 billion in
2005-06. The breakdown is as follows:

  • Between £327 and £345 million in years 2003-06 to
    give all three-year-olds a free nursery education place in their
    area.
  • Between £471 and £843 million in years 2003-06 is to
    be given to the Sure Start programme in disadvantaged areas. This
    includes between £83 million and £138 million in years
    2003-06 to provide more neighbourhood nurseries – creating 28,800
    more places by March 2006 to the 45,000 the government aims to have
    set up by March 2004.
  • Between £5 million and £181 million in years 2003-06
    to provide children’s centres in disadvantaged areas for at least
    650,000 children by March 2006.
  • Between £13 million and £25 million in years 2003-06
    to provide 100 early excellence centres.
  • Other childcare places spending rises to between £136
    million and £258 million in years 2003-06. This includes
    between £19 million and £40 million in years 2003-06 for
    out of school childcare places to achieve the government’s target
    of 250,000 places by March 2006.

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