Sure Start Local Programmes (SSLPs) [1] have been at the cornerstone of UK Government's drive to tackle child poverty and social exclusion through better prevention and early intervention.
Programs are universal in that they are available to all families with young children in disadvantaged areas. There is considerable variation in how programs are implemented since each decides its own curriculum. Programs cover outreach and home visiting, support for families and parents, good quality play, learning and child care, health care and support for children with special needs. Despite mixed evaluation results, Sure Start programs have been extended and subsumed into a broader policy to provide children's centers.
Links:
[1] http://www.surestart.gov.uk/surestartservices/settings/surestartlocalprogrammes/