The education secretary has announced that the government will open more than 200 family hubs this week in an effort to provide more support for parents. 

Bridget Phillipson has unveiled the proposals, which will see “Best Start” hubs provide free parenting advice, play sessions for infants, debt and welfare guidance asbwell as early support for children with special educational needs. 

In all, the government hopes to open 1,000 of these hubs by the end of 2028, and has claimed they will save families £200 a year.

It’s hoped they’ll be seen as a continuation of the Sure Start sites created under the previous Labour government. 

Speaking on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, the cabinet minister said: “It revitalizes that legacy for a new generation of children. And there’s lots of evidence now, so many years on, as to what was most effective from Sure Start. 

“And what was most effective was when you bring together health support, parenting support, all in one place that families can access, close to home and as quickly as possible.”

Will Best Start hubs be underfunded?

But are the new hubs being underfunded compared to their counterparts in the 2000s? 

Sir Trevor Phillips put it to Phillipson earlier that at its peak, Sure Start cost £2.7bn anually and supported 300 hubs, which works out at roughly £900,000 a centre. 

By comparison, the government has promised £300m a year for 100 hubs, which works out at £300,000 a centre.

Challenged that the government is only providing a third as many centres with a third of the funding, Phillipson replied: “What you’re comparing is where we got to by the end of the last labor government after 13 years, we’re two years in. 

“I am ambitious for supporting families. And this is a huge, huge step forward. So this is backed up by £1bn of investment.”

‘I want to be able to invest more in education’

Challenged though that it is much less money, Phillipson admitted: “Well, we are, conscious of the environment… I want to be able to invest more in education, in our public services – but that depends on growing our economy and on all of the wider decisions. 

“But we know if we invest when children are young, it leads to big benefits further down the line, not just for children, but also for our economy too.”