The expectations of families and patterns of participation in a Trailblazer Sure Start

The aim of this case study was to evaluate the local impact of an innovative Sure Start located in the east of England. The evaluation addressed the expectations of parents/carers for themselves and their children, and the extent to which Sure Start contributed to their achievement. A distinction was made between regular users and families that did not engage with services. Methods included individual interviews, events data linkage, goal attainment scales for parents and children and group review with stakeholders. The participants were 67 local families (160 individuals), all of whom had at least one child born between August 2001 and April 2004. An exploration of the utilisation of services over time and consumer engagement with services showed that the programme became more effective at engaging families. The role of community practitioners in the early promotion of Sure Start became apparent. Certain entry points, such as a home visit by a health visitor, were associated with more contacts, and more sustained pathways through the programme. Families that were actively engaged with Sure Start identified a range of benefits, especially greater social inclusion. The expectations of families who were 'active users' of Sure Start services matched the aims of Sure Start, and were being met.