John Bercow says the early years programme was a crucial life enhancer for millions of children and could be a key election battleground. Plus letters from Prof Gary Craig, Deborah Hayter, Keith Reed and Ian Wrigglesworth As a sinner who long ago repenteth, may I echo the call by Gordon Brown and the three former Labour education secretaries for an election pledge by Labour to revive the Sure Start programme (Senior Labour figures call for ‘life-transforming’ Sure Start policy, 9 April)? Newly elected as a Conservative MP in 1997, I followed my then party in opposing the programme, before realising how wrong I was. For millions of children, especially the most disadvantaged, Sure Start was a crucial life enhancer, providing invaluable socialisation and, to children with special educational needs, the precious advantage of early intervention. In the ever-lengthening chargesheet against the worst Conservative government in living memory, the destruction of this progressive programme must rank as one of its most cardinal sins. Continue reading...

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