To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Sure Start outreach programmes. (148051)

There is a comprehensive national level evaluation of Sure Start local programmes (SSLPs) in place, which began in January 2001 and will run until 2008. Outreach is part of the core work SSLPs are expected to deliver, and is a theme that runs through much of the evaluation. In particular, the study “Outreach and Home Visiting in Sure Start Local Programmes¹” (November 2006) provides extensive information evaluating how far outreach and home visiting are contributing to the aim of Sure Start.

¹ Outreach and Home Visiting in Sure Start Local Programmes, November 2006. NESS Report 17; DfES HMSO. Ball, M. and Niven, L. (2006)