The expectations of families and patterns of participation in a Trailblazer Sure Start
2008
The aim of this case study was to evaluate the local impact of an innovative Sure Start
located in the east of England. The evaluation addressed the expectations of parents/carers
for themselves and their children, and the extent to which Sure Start contributed to their
achievement. A distinction was made between regular users and families that did not engage
with services. Methods included individual interviews, events data linkage, goal attainment
scales for parents and children and group review with stakeholders. The participants were 67
local families (160 individuals), all of whom had at least one child born between August 2001
and April 2004. An exploration of the utilisation of services over time and consumer
engagement with services showed that the programme became more effective at engaging
families. The role of community practitioners in the early promotion of Sure Start became
apparent. Certain entry points, such as a home visit by a health visitor, were associated with
more contacts, and more sustained pathways through the programme. Families that were
actively engaged with Sure Start identified a range of benefits, especially greater social
inclusion. The expectations of families who were ‘active users’ of Sure Start services matched
the aims of Sure Start, and were being met.
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