This Good Level of Development (GLD) Improvement Plan sets a clear direction for how the local system will work together to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life. Beginning from pregnancy and spanning the early years through to school entry. The plan aligns with the national ambition that a record proportion of children should start school ready to learn by 2028 and with the national mission for 75% of children to achieve GLD by 2028.

The purpose of this plan is to:

• articulate how the local area will improve GLD outcomes, with a priority focus on disadvantaged children.
• set out a unified, evidence‑informed approach across health, early education, family support and community services.
• align local practice with the national Children’s Services Reform agenda and the wider Plan for Change reforms driving improved early childhood outcomes.

The Best Start in Life (BSiL) programme is a core mechanism for delivering these ambitions locally. It forms part of the area’s broader strategic transformation of early years and early help services, including the development of Best Start Family Hubs, improvements in early education quality, and closer integration across education, health, and social care. The Project Initiation Document (PID) described the programme as establishing strong foundations in development, health and emotional wellbeing, empowering parents with knowledge and support, and enabling communities to provide safe, inclusive environments for children to thrive.

This strategic plan applies to all children aged 0 to 5, with particular focus on places and populations affected by deprivation, SEND, English as an Additional Language(EAL) or other factors associated with lower early years outcomes. However, the broader national Best Start in Life strategy supports children and young people up to the age of 19 (or 25 for those with SEND), and wider support will be available for families and older children and young people.