The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has published a report evaluating the impact of access to Sure Start early years centres on children’s absence and suspensions at school, youth offending and contacts with the children’s social care system in England. Findings include: access to Sure Start in the first five years of life was associated with a significant reduction in youth crime that resulted in convictions or custodial sentences; there was no significant effect on referrals to children’s social care services between ages 7 and 16; and children in care during late primary school (ages 7 to 11) spent around 13% less time being looked after if they had access to Sure Start services.
Read/Download the report: The effect of Sure Start on youth misbehaviour, crime and contacts with children’s social care
Source: Institute for Fiscal Studies
Date published: 24 October 2024
