Strategy: Giving every child the best start in life, Department for Education
What are the main points?
> The government is investing over £500m to create a network of up to 1000 Best Start Family Hubs across every local authority in England by 2028. They will be open
> Building on ‘the best of the Sure Start, Family Hubs and Start for Life approaches’ the hubs will offer a ‘new evidenced-informed core offer for parents’ with wide-ranging help for families, as well as a digital service for parents.
> The hubs are part of the Best Start in Life strategy, in which the government has promised close to £1.5 billion to improve family services and early years education.
> This strategy also promises to strengthen health visiting ‘by reducing variation in the reach and quality of development and health reviews’, and to improve other services including maternity care and vaccination access.
EXPERT THOUGHT
Anna Feuchtwang, CEO of National Children’s Bureau (NCB), said: ‘With indications of a funding boost for babies and young children already included in the 10 Year Health plan, I am delighted to see children and families being given clear priority in government spending decisions.’ NCB deputy director education and early years Alice Jones Bartoli added: ‘Now we must ensure [the government’s ambition] is matched with the investment needed to deliver for every baby, child and family.’
