ABSTRACT
'The aim of Sure Start is to work with parents, parents-to-be and children to promote the physical, intellectual and social development of babies and young children - particularly those who are disadvantaged. Areas are selected on the basis of 'deprivation', however project in Billesley, an outer ring estate in Birmingham, was selected as a trailblazer because it already had an established Children and Parents' Centre. Parents of children with special needs commented that it was often not until their children got to school that they received any support or felt they were heard. The Children and Parents' Centre has been redeveloped to accommodate the expanding services and team. Sure Start is different because of its bottom up rather than top down approach. An evaluation of the programme is currently under way, so it will be interesting to see how the community views the impact of Sure Start.
