Sure Start children's centres were found to generate £2.05 in benefits for every £1 spent, highlighting their cost-effectiveness, according to an Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) report. Originally initiated by the Labour government, these centres provided integrated early years services, resulting in substantial savings and better health, education, and social care outcomes for families. Despite their success, funding cuts since 2010 led to a severe reduction in the number of centres. The IFS study shows that investment in early childhood support can yield lasting positive impacts on children born in the 1990s and 2000s.
Our work shows that integrated early years services, done well, are cheaper than they initially seem once their benefits are taken into account.
We estimate that every 1 of up-front spending on Sure Start generated 2.05 in total benefits over the long run.
These benefits are not only important in their own right, they also generate significant long-term savings for the government and society.
Results showed improvements in health and education, yielding better GCSE results, reduced school absences, and less severe special educational needs.
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