The UK government has unveiled an ambitious plan to ensure every child gets the best possible start in life, regardless of their background. Titled Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life, this strategy outlines a decade-long commitment to transform early years support, focusing on three key areas:
1. Better Support for Families
The government recognises that strong family support is foundational to child development. To achieve this, they will:
- Launch Best Start Family Hubs, integrating health, education, and parenting services in one place, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
- Strengthen health visiting and maternity services, improve vaccination access, and tackle childhood tooth decay.
- Introduce a digital parenting hub linked to the NHS app, offering trusted advice and simplifying access to funded childcare.
2. More Accessible Early Education and Childcare
To ease financial burdens and expand access:
- Eligible working parents will receive 30 hours of funded childcare weekly from the term after their child turns nine months, saving families up to £7,500 annually.
- New school-based nurseries will create thousands of places, targeting areas with shortages.
- Funding for the Early Years Pupil Premium will rise to £570 per child, supporting disadvantaged families.
- Reforms will simplify the childcare system and improve inclusion for children with special educational needs (SEND).
3. Improving Quality in Early Years Education
The plan prioritises high-quality early education by:
- Increasing the number of qualified early years teachers, with incentives for those working in deprived areas.
- Expanding Stronger Practice Hubs to share evidence-based teaching methods.
- Focusing on early language and maths skills, with programmes like Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI).
- Enhancing reception year support to ensure smoother transitions to primary school.
Why It Matters
With over 4.5 million children growing up in poverty and many missing developmental milestones, this strategy aims to bridge gaps early. By 2028, the government targets 75% of children achieving a “good level of development” by age five, up from 68% today.
A Collaborative Effort
Success depends on partnerships with families, educators, health professionals, and local authorities. As Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson states:
“We’re ambitious for early years reform because we’re ambitious for the children of this country.”
This strategy marks the first step in a long-term vision to build a fairer, healthier, and more prosperous future for all children.
Read the full publication here:
Giving every child the best start in life (PDF)
