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Frequently asked questions

Before contacting us about Sure Start or issues relating to early years and childcare, please take a look at our list of answers to the most popular questions below.

Requests for hard copies of leaflets or documents should be made to our publications department, Prolog, by telephone on 0845 60 222 60 or by post or email.

Sure Start is a national government programme. However, all Sure Start Children's Centres are managed and delivered locally, therefore any queries or complaints about an individual Sure Start Children's Centre should be made either directly to it, or its Local Authority. You can find the contact details for your Local Authority by visiting the Local Authorities website.

If you are concerned about a child's safety, or want more information on the Government's commitment to safeguarding, please visit the page on Information and Guidance for Members of the Public Concerned about Safeguarding and Child Protection at Every Child Matters.

1. What is Sure Start and how did it come about?

Sure Start is a government programme which aims to deliver the best start in life for every child. It brings together early education, childcare, health and family support. Sure Start covers a wide range of programmes both universal and those targeted on particular local areas or disadvantaged groups within England.

All Sure Start local programmes have become children’s centres. Local authorities are responsible for Sure Start children’s centres, and the services on offer may vary from area to area. For more information on the services available at children's centres, see the Sure Start Children's Centres pages.

The first Sure Start local programmes were set up in 1999 as the result of the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review, and more information is available on the history and origins of Sure Start.

2. Is there a Sure Start Children’s Centre in my area? Can they help me, and how do I contact them?

To find out more about Sure Start services in your area and how you can access them, contact your nearest Sure Start Children’s Centre. You can find children's centres through the Schoolsfinder search facility at DirectGov, or through your local children’s information service at ChildcareLink (tel. 0800 2 346 346). ChildcareLink can also help with a range of queries about early years and childcare services in your area.

3. Am I entitled to a Sure Start maternity grant and how do I apply?

Jobcentre Plus is responsible for Sure Start maternity grants, which are £500 grants from the Social Fund to help with the extra cost of a new baby if your income is low. You can find the phone number and address of Jobcentre Plus in the business section of the phone book. If you have a question about an existing application you should contact the local Jobcentre Plus office to which you applied. The Department for Children, Schools and Families is unable to deal with any enquiries about the maternity grant.

4. How can I become a volunteer in a Sure Start Children’s Centre?

If you wish to become a volunteer at a Sure Start Children’s Centre, you will need to contact them individually and directly. Every centre makes their own decisions about who is recruited as a volunteer.

5. How do I go about getting a job in childcare, early years or playwork and what qualifications do I need?

Getting a job in childcare
For information about working in early years and childcare visit the Childcare Careers website. Alternatively, call free on 0800 99 66 00 to request an information pack.

Qualifications
Information about qualifications required for a variety of job roles and settings is available from the Children's Workforce Development Council.

Training
For more information about local training options, work placements and job opportunities, contact the early years and childcare recruitment team at your local authority. You will find their details in the local contacts section of the Childcare Careers website, along with information about different careers and case study examples.

Contacting Sure Start Children's Centres
If you wish to apply to work for a children’s centre, you will need to contact them individually and directly.

A list of contact details for individual Sure Start Children’s Centres is available via Schoolsfinder.

6. Where can I get financial assistance to study for a foundation degree in early years and childcare?

Aim Higher can provide advice about financial help when studying for a higher education qualification, including a foundation degree in early years and childcare.

7. Can I advertise or offer my goods or services on the Sure Start website?

We no longer provide an advertising service on the Sure Start website. Sure Start local programmes and children’s centres are individually responsible for making decisions about the goods and services they purchase, and who they work with. Therefore, you will need to contact them individually and directly.

A list of contact details for individual Sure Start Children’s Centres can be found through the Families Information Service (tel. 0800 2 346 346).

For data protection reasons, we cannot provide mailing lists of Sure Start settings.

8. Where can I find financial help and support in setting up my own childcare business?

The government makes funding available through local authorities to create and expand early years and childcare provision. All funding decisions are at the discretion of the local authority and they are best placed to provide assistance to local early years and childcare providers, including advice on possible sources of funding available.

Contact the business support officer at your local authority to see what financial and business support is available.

9. Can I use the Sure Start logo and where can I find electronic versions of it?

Guidance is available on using the Sure Start logo, along with electronic copies of the various approved styles.

10. Is my child entitled to free early education and how do I find out more?

All three- and four-year-olds are entitled to free early education for 12.5 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year. However, the right to a free part-time early education place does not entitle you to a free place with a particular provider.

There should be no charge made in order to obtain your child's minimum entitlement. All providers of early education in schools, and in private and voluntary settings, receive funding from their local authority to offer the free place. However, providers may charge for additional services outside the free entitlement. The level of the fees is a private matter for agreement between you and the provider.

Your local families information service can provide advice on the local provision of free nursery places. Contact details are available on the ChildcareLink website or by telephoning 0800 2 346 346.

Contact us

If you did not find the information you require, contact the Department for Children, Schools and Families by email at info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk or by telephone on 0870 000 2288. Further popular questions are answered on the Department for Children, Schools and Families website.