Sure Start
Sure Start is a targeted programme supporting children under the age of four, and their families, living in the most disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland. Sure Start projects deliver a wide variety of services which are designed to enhance children’s learning skills, health and well-being, and social and emotional development.
Sure Start Outcomes
Sure Start contributes to the achievement of draft Programme for Government (PfG) Outcomes, particularly “We give our children the best start in life”.
Information relating to the outcomes achieved by Sure Start projects can be accessed via the links below.
- Sure Start Report Card 2020/21
- Sure Start Report Card 2021/22
- Sure Start Report Card 2022/23
- Sure Start Report Card 2023/24
The Report Card is aligned to the five Sure Start policy outcomes for children and families which are:
Improved language skills; early identification of developmental delay; improved access to services; enhanced parenting skills; and effectively integrated Services.
Key Sure Start Statistics
Infographics containing key Sure Start statistical data may be accessed via the link below.
Sure Start partnerships information
Follow the links below to the nidirect website where information is published on the services that Sure Start partnerships provide and also lists of the Sure Start partnerships.
Circulars
Circular 2017/10 - School Census - Sure Start Data Collection 2017/18 supersedes DE circular number 2015/20 providing updated information and highlighting the requirement and context for schools to record data electronically, utilising the C2k School Information Management System (SIMS), relating to Sure Start as part of annual school census data collection exercises.
Review of Sure Start
- Independent Review of Sure Start Final Report
- Independent Review of Sure Star Programme - Appendices Report
- Review of the Staffing Structure of Health Professionals in Sure Start
Independent Review of DE Targeted Early Years Interventions
ETI Sure Start Evaluation Report May 2018
The ETI carried out an evaluation of Sure Start between January and March 2018. The focus of the evaluation was linked directly to one of the expected policy outcomes and a key aim of Sure Start projects, namely the improvement of children’s language skills.
ETI Sure Start Evaluation Report June 2019
The ETI conducted a further evaluation of Sure Start in 2019. The key themes are how children and parents are supported to develop speech, language and communication skills, the quality of support for parents, the development of the home learning environment and partnerships working between Sure Start projects and pre-school settings.
ETI Sure Start Evaluation Report February 2020
Evaluation of Improving Practice in Sure Start
This evaluation focuses on how Sure Start projects use self-evaluation to bring about improvement in the quality of provision and outcomes for children and parents. It builds on the two previous evaluations of Sure Start by the ETI.
ETI Sure Start Evaluation Report February 2020
ETI Sure Start Evaluation Report September 2021
Thematic Report on Sure Starts’ planning, delivery and monitoring of services to children and families during COVID-19
This evaluation report focuses on how effectively Sure Starts’ responded and adapted the planning, delivery and monitoring of services to children and families in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the period from March 2020 to March 2021.