01/04/04 - Early Years and Childcare service changes name to Cumbria Sure Start

From this week, Cumbria’s Early Years & Childcare Service will change its name to Cumbria Sure Start.  The name has been changed following an increase in the range of services the Unit offers and to reflect the organisational changes at a national level.  Within the Department of Education and Skills, the national Early Years and Childcare Unit has merged with the National Sure Start Unit, to become Sure Start.

The Sure Start agenda is for children, parents and communities across the country.  It covers children from pre-birth through to age 14, and up to age 16 for children with special education needs and disabilities. 

The Sure Start Agenda brings together:

•   early education
•   childcare
•   family support
•   health

It provides universal, free, early education and more high quality childcare, with targeted support where there is a greater need through children’s tax credit, children’s centres and on-going support for local Sure Start programmes.

Isabella Geraghty, Senior Education Officer for Cumbria Sure Start says,

“We are delighted that our new name will now reflect the scope of our work which we undertake in partnership with colleagues from other sectors, delivering early education, childcare, health and support to families right across Cumbria.  The Sure Start Agenda is one we can all share in with the emphasis on ensuring children have the best start in life.”