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Early Years and Schools

Best Start In Life

Bexley published its Best Start in Life Strategic Plan in March, outlining how the local area will work together to improve outcomes for children aged 0 to five and support families in the early years.

The plan forms part of the borough’s wider transformation of its early years and early help services.

A central element of the strategy is the development of a Best Start Family Hub network, bringing together Health Visiting, Infant Feeding Clinics, School Nursing, Early Years Education, SEND support and Family Support services. West Street Family Hub in Erith will serve as the first hub.

The Best Start in Life strategy focuses on five priorities to improve early years outcomes:

  • strengthen early language, communication and home learning
  • improve parental support from pregnancy to age two
  • increase access to high-quality early education and childcare
  • build a coordinated, place-based Family Hub model
  • strengthen parenting through evidence-based programmes

Cllr Caroline Newton, Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate Services and Education, said:

The early years are a vital time in a child’s life and we want every child to have the best possible start. This plan sets out how we will work with families, communities and partners to provide support where it is needed most.

Our Best Start in Life Strategic Plan will ensure essential services are brought together locally, making it easier for families to access help and giving children the foundations they need to thrive."

Inspection success

Councillor Caroline Newton, Cabinet Member for Education
Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate Services and Education, Cllr Caroline Newton

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have published their full SEND monitoring inspection and found that Bexley’s local area partnership has taken "effective action" to make improvements in all the services and support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) that were identified during our Local Area SEND Inspection in December 2023.

Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate Services and Education, Cllr Caroline Newton, said:

I’m really pleased that the inspectors have recognised the extremely hard work that we have put in to make these improvements.

The changes have been made to a high standard, often using innovative new ways of working, impressing the Inspectors with the changes that we have put in place."

You can read the report on the Ofsted website.

Life after school

Are you a parent, carer or young person with SEND with questions about life after school? The Preparing for Adulthood Through Holistic Support (PATHS) sessions provide a welcoming space where you can talk things through.

In-person at Danson Youth Community Centre on 14 July from 11.15am to 12.15pm. No booking required.

Online on 15 July and 22 July from 2pm to 4pm and 16 July and 23 July from 12.30pm to 1pm.

Book your place on one of the PATHS sessions

Autism Partnership Board Newsletter

Sign up to the Autism Partnership Board newsletter to receive the latest updates, local news, events and opportunities relating to autism support in Bexley.

The newsletter helps residents, families and professionals stay informed about partnership activity, services and upcoming engagement opportunities across the borough.

Sign up to the Bexley newsletter

 

 

Take part in the Bexley Voice Survey on Preparing for Adulthood in Bexley 2026

The purpose of the survey is to provide Bexley Voice with an understanding of how well parents and carers feel the Preparing for Adulthood process works in Bexley and to identify opportunities for improvement.

This is particularly important following the SEND inspection of 2023 that highlighted that improvements were needed in the Preparing for Adulthood process.

Results will be shared with Bexley but no information will be shared that can identify individuals. We will post the findings on our website in the Autumn term.

Take part in the survey