Sure Start Minister, Baroness Catherine Ashton, visited the borough's newest Sure Start programme on Wednesday (10/03/04).

Sure Start South was launched last year in Sands End and parts of Fulham, offering a wide range of services to about 700 children and their families.

Among the services included in the programme are:
" Mobile toy library, with hundreds of items for loan
" Baby massage sessions
" 'Little kickers' football scheme for two and three-year-olds
" Born to Learn, parents as first teachers - the first and only parenting and early education programme of its kind in London, which focuses on the 0-6 months period of child development and the crucial role parents or carers play during this time
" Brazelton neonatal behavioural assessment - a pioneering programme which gives a 'portrait' of each baby's personality up to eight weeks old to help parents communicate with their child, improving their ability to meet their child's individual needs
" Community librarian
" Speech and language therapy
" Crèche and pre-school facilities; childminding network
" Midwifery and health visitors
" Programme for children with additional needs, including sensory and learning difficulties
" Sessions to prepare parents for learning English as an additional language.

Sure Start South is temporarily housed at Langford Primary School, in Gilstead Road, Fulham, but is due to move to a refurbished base at Sands End Community Centre next month.

Catherine Ashton met senior managers and members of the Sure Start South team during her visit and saw displays and demonstrations of services, including the toy library, Brazelton assessment and Born to Learn programme.

Geraldine Finney, Sure Start South programme manager, said: "The parents love the Brazelton and Born to Learn programmes. They can't believe their babies can do so many things. They really get to know their babies and what signals each child is giving off as well as learning what environment they need to thrive."

Catherine Ashton, who spoke to parents during her visit, said: "What was lovely was seeing the parents benefiting from the toy library and hearing them talk about being able to come together and get support when they are worried about their children. They are all looking forward to having a permanent base at Sands End Community Centre and all the opportunities that will bring. It's going to be great - I can feel it.
We want every child to get a sure start in life so they can go on to achieve their full potential. Good quality childcare and early education helps children do better once they get to school and helps parents balance their work and family life."

Education deputy, Cllr David Williams, who was among the guests, said: "Sure Start South is an innovative ten-year programme, which is attracting more than £500,000 of government money a year, plus over £1 million for capital projects, including the refurbishment of Sands End Community Centre as well as improved facilities for families at local tenants' halls, the Castle after-school play centre and Langford Primary School.
Together with the other two highly successful Sure Start programmes, in Shepherds Bush and Hammersmith, our early years centres and nurseries and our partnership with private and voluntary sector childcare providers, we are helping to give young children in this borough the best start possible."

The other two Sure Start programmes in the borough are Sure Start Coningham, in Shepherds Bush, and Sure Start Broadway/Margravine, in Hammersmith. Projects funded by Sure Start Broadway/Margravine have included a 25-minute play for under threes produced by the Lyric Hammersmith, which toured more than 40 venues in the borough last year.