Bristol South Labour Party

Working hard all year round for South Bristol

Celebrating Sure Start at Hartcliffe Children's Centre

Dawn celebrated the opening of the country’s 3,000th Sure Start children’s centre with a visit to the Hartcliffe Early Years Centre.

The Centre, on Hareclive Road near to the @Symes development, is among 26 currently open in Bristol and is one of the city’s most successful, having been rated as “Outstanding” in its latest Ofsted report.

Following the visit Dawn said: “Hartcliffe Children’s Centre is a clear example of the Government’s investment in Early Years education paying off. The children I met today were bright, attentive and full of enthusiasm for learning – an enthusiasm which I know is shared by parents, teachers and governors at the centre, all of whom are working together to make it a success and give local kids the very best start possible.”

While the Conservatives have pledged to cut £200million from the Sure Start budget, equivalent to closing five children’s centres in Bristol, the Government is on course to deliver its manifesto commitment of a centre in every community, with 3,500 open by 2010.

[8/5/09]