The London Borough of Bexley has published its Best Start in Life Strategic Plan, outlining how the local area will work together to improve outcomes for children aged 0 to 5 and support families in the early years. The plan forms part of the borough’s wider transformation of 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 form the first hub. Our administrative and training centre, providing support for professionals and families, will be located at the Learning Enterprise College Bexley in Brampton Road. A range of ‘pop up’ hubs are planned across the borough in the near future. The hubs will be delivered in partnership with local organisations, including health services, education providers, libraries and community groups, ensuring families can access joined-up support locally.
The Best Start in Life programme is a core mechanism for delivering our ambitions to support improvements in quality of early education and closer integration across education, health and social care.
The 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
Councillor Caroline Newton, Cabinet Member for 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.”
The programme will run until 2029, as the Best Start in Life Family Hub network expands to more locations across the borough.
Read the full Best Start in Life Strategic Plan.