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  • Sure Start

    Topics:
    • Support and development, 
    • Early years education and learning

    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 Infographics

    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.

    • Sure Start Services
    • 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

    • 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.

    ETI Sure Start Evaluation Report September 2021

    Related content

    • Applying for a funded pre-school place – 2025/26
    • Curricular guidance
    • Draft Early Years (0-6) Strategy Consultation
    • Early years education
    • Executive Early Learning and Childcare Strategy
    • Getting Ready to Learn (GRtL) & Getting Ready for Toddler (3+ Review)
    • Guidance for pre-school education providers
    • Guidance on induction and transition in pre-school education and Year 1 of primary school
    • Investing in Early Learning (1998)
    • Irish Medium Pre-School Research
    • Learning to Learn
    • Learning to Learn Consultation
    • Minister’s Decisions on Pre-School Settings Requesting Transition from September 2025
    • Origins of Pre-School Education in Northern Ireland
    • Pre-School Education Places
    • Pre-School Education Programme - Standardisation
    • Pre-school Review 2004 - A fresh start for early years
    • Qualifications for early years specialists
    • Review of Pre-School Admissions Arrangements
    • The Pathway Fund
    • The Pathway Fund 2021–2023
    • Tranche Three – Pre-school Settings Requesting Transition From September 2025
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