The book comes out of a University research project that has worked closely with one local programme over five years from its beginning. Sure Start is a national government initiative that targets families with children aged up to the age of four in areas of social and economic disadvantage, to promote development so children are ready to thrive when they start school. Latterly, there has been increased emphasis on day care to enable parents to join the workforce. The particular Sure Start programme at Foxhill & Parson Cross in Sheffield provided the framework for a wide range of new services within health, education and social services and allowed for innovative practice and inter-agency collaboration. Those involved in the programme provide accounts of these various services, what methods were employed, what worked and what did not work, and lessons that can be drawn from their experience that may be helpful for other situations. The implications of this work extend far beyond the immediate context of this particular programme. Following a foreword written by Naomi Eisenstadt, this book is divided into six parts. Part 1, Introduction, includes the first two chapters: (1) Why We Should Learn from Sure Start; and (2) Listening to Families: A Survey of Parents' Views. Part 2, Improving Social and Emotional Development, contains the next three chapters: (3) Family Support; (4) "Connecting with Our Kids" Parenting Programme; and (5) Meeting the Needs of Teenage Parents. Part 3, Improving Health, continues with the following four chapters: (6) Low Birth Weight Exploring the Contribution of Nutrition; (7) Supporting Breastfeeding Mothers; (8) The Impact of Sure Start on Health Visiting; and (9) Child Safety Scheme. Part 4, Improving Children's Ability to Learn, offers these five chapters: (10) Quality of Play and Learning Opportunities; (11) Community Teaching in a Sure Start Context; (12) Screening and Language Development; (13) Media, Popular Culture and Young Children; and (14) A Dialogic Reading Intervention Programme for Parents and Preschoolers. Part 5, Strengthening Families and Communities, presents the next three chapters: (15) Community Involvement; (16) The Young Families' Advice Service; and (17) Community Research. Part 6, What Have We Learned? What Do We Need to Know? contains the closing chapters of the book: (18) Bringing It Together: The Role of the Programme Manager; and (19) Looking to the Future. Appendices are also included.