Sure Start's flexibility at a local level was bound to lead to a lack of consistency, it was claimed this week after leaked findings from the programme's national evaluation showed a wide variety of outcomes.
Phil Osborne, head of the early years and child care service at Surrey Council, said he was not surprised by the findings because the programme had no "overall blueprint".
Reports this week claim the evaluation shows that Sure Start has failed to improve some children's development, language and behaviour.
Another report from the evaluation team due in October is likely to say Sure Start should not have been targeted on the basis of age or geographical boundaries.
