The objective was to give just that, a sure start to the under fives in an environment that would support not just the children but their parents too.

The first scheme which started on the Broomgrove Estate in Hastings, developed from a play group in Halton run by Jan and was a great success. From the very beginning parents (particularly mothers) felt "at home". The idea of Surestart was to provide rather more than a nursery. It's purpose was to provide an environment which in which the children, their parents and carers could join in the learning experience.

Of course the children were the focus but soon projects such as the Horizons Learning Project for the parents was on board. Health visitors and other agencies came on site and for many this one stop supportive environment was simply " life changing ".

So successful was it that over the years the scheme has been broadened out so as that now we have nine centres with a tenth to be opened soon. Now named Surestart Children's Centres they have moved to Local Authority control but still funded by Government and they are in my view the jewel in the crown of Labour achievement.

One of the important aspects is the visiting service. Not everyone still feels comfortable about turning up at least initially and meeting people they do not know. Sometimes those who do attend need support in the home and the outreach workers from the Surestart Children Centres fill that role.

That is why I am so sad that something that has generally been supported by the other parties now appears to be an issue of conflict.

At last week's Conservative Party Spring conference the Tory leader David Cameron proposed that these outreach workers would be the first cuts in the Surestart programme. Happily despite the opinion polls I do not foresee David Cameron at No. 10 and able to fulfil the cuts programme he proposes but if it happened it would be disastrous.

The Surestart children's programme is about investment in our youngsters and therefore in all our futures. To cut the programme in any way would suggest knowing the cost but not the value of this precious project.