I actually feel sorry for Department for Education officials at the moment. While the coalition Government beds in do they draw straws before each speaking engagement to decide which one has to attend?

If that’s the case then keynote speaker Sally Burlington certainly drew the short straw before today’s 8th Annual Sure Start Conference. With the Spending Review pending, what could she tell the children’s centre delegates that they didn’t already know?

Cue a speech rattling off how Sure Start came into being, how many children’s centres there now are and how evidence shows how vitally important the early years are. Haven’t we heard that all before?

It’s a case of treading water until 20 october, but then we may not want to hear what’s new.