Clarke sets out Sure Start spending plan

Education secretary Charles Clarke has announced detailed spending
plans for the £4bn promised in the spending review for Sure
Start by 2005-6.

The money – £1bn in 2003-4, £1.3bn in 2004-5 and
£1.6bn in 2005-6 – will allow the creation of more child care
places and the setting up of children’s centres in disadvantaged
areas.

Between £327m and £345m each year will be used to provide
all three-year-olds a free nursery education place in their area by
April 2004.

Sure Start programmes in disadvantaged areas will receive between
£471m and £843m each year, including between £83m
and £138m for 28,800 additional neighbourhood nursery places
by March 2006 to add to the 45,000 places due to be set up by March
2004.

Almost £250m will be spent on providing children’s centres in
disadvantaged areas for at least 650,000 children over the next
three years, with a further £53m going to 100 Early Excellence
Centres.

Spending on other child care places will rise to £258m by
2006, including £35m in 2006 to support children with special
needs.