Formerly, the National Out of School Alliance and then the Kids' Club Network, the organisation was established in 1983 for developing a concept of after-school provision following research conducted by the British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centre (BASSAC).
[1] 4Children ran 88 Sure Start Children's Centres across the country, 42 nurseries, 21 out-of-school clubs, and provided services in 24 activity centres at Royal Air Force bases in partnership with the RAF Benevolent Fund.
The following year, the charity announced plans to expand their work by running children's centres in partnership with local government.
Chaired jointly by Esther Rantzen and Anne Longfield, the report called for the extension of children's centres.
[9] 4Children's corporate growth under its chief executive, Anne Longfield, was not matched by growing revenues, and the charity ran into financial trouble.