The Children’s Commissioner for England has published a report looking at the provision of early years services for children across the country, alongside a warning that many nurseries are at risk of closure, hitting the life chances of some of the most vulnerable children and holding back the economic recovery following lockdown.

The report, ‘Best Beginnings’, is an in-depth examination of early years provision in England. It describes a system that is disjointed and often failing to target those disadvantaged children with development problems who most need early help.

It comes amid a recent warning from childcare providers that one in four nurseries and pre-schools fear closure within the year, rising to one in three in the most disadvantaged areas, as a result of the coronavirus lockdown.

Dr Cheryll Adams CBE, Executive Director iHV, commented: 

“Best beginnings is a powerful and very well researched report from Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner and her team. It recommends a strengthened holistic, cross-government approach to ensuring that every infant is supported to meet its full potential, whether through strengthened community services, including health visiting, or a strengthened childcare/nursery offer.

“I particularly liked the starting point: There are certain things that every baby needs as the foundations for a healthy, happy life:

  1. Loving, nurturing relationships with parents and carers
  2. A safe home free from stress and adversity
  3. The right help to develop good language and other cognitive skills
  4. Support to manage behaviour and regulate their emotions
  5. Good physical and mental health and access to healthcare”

“Helping parents achieve this for their infants is the essence of health visiting.”

The report shows the need for an overhaul of the early years system in England. It details how too many children, particularly those growing up in disadvantaged families, are already behind by the time they start formal education. Last year, 29% of five- year-olds in England were not at the expected level of development by the time they started school, including 45% of children receiving Free School Meals. In Middlesbrough, 38% of children are not achieving the expected level of development aged 5, while in Dudley and Sandwell it is 35% of children.

The report sets out how starting school behind can undermine children’s life chances. The Commissioner’s office analysed data on all children in England who had not met the expected level on half of their early learning goals at age 5 and tracked them through to the end of primary school. These children were:

  • five times as likely to end up being excluded by age 10
  • twice as likely to have had contact with children’s social care by age 11
  • three times more likely to be struggling with reading at age 11
  • four times more likely to be struggling with writing at age 11.

Recent research also shows these children are more likely to leave school with no GCSEs, more likely to suffer some form of mental ill health and more likely to be obese.

The Children’s Commissioner is calling for a new ‘Best Beginnings’ early years investment plan, ranging from Children and Family hubs to midwives and health visitors, to tackle these problems at the beginning of a child’s life rather than waiting until crises develop in later years. While some foundations of an excellent early years service are already in place, the Children’s Commissioner is urging the Government to bring together and turbocharge these services into one system which provides first class provision that works for families and ensures that all children, including the most disadvantaged, get the best possible start in life.

The Children’s Commissioner makes a number of recommendations including:

  • An emergency recovery package for the childcare providers whose finances have been worst affected by Covid-19. Government should also reconsider the design of Universal Credit which makes it hard for lower earning families to get help with childcare, as parents have to pay costs upfront and then wait to be repaid.
  • An expanded offer of 30 hours free childcare and early education for all children aged two, three and four, and 15 free hours for all one-year-olds, so that early years education is seen as part of ordinary life, in the same way that school is.
  • A cross-government ‘Best Beginnings’ strategy led by a Cabinet Minister for the Early Years. This would set out how a revitalised and extended Healthy Child Programme, the Early Years Foundation Stage, Children and Family Hubs, antenatal services and the Troubled Families Programme would work together.
  • A Family Guarantee of support for under-fives and their families delivered by health visitors, early help and Troubled Families workers, family nurses or family support workers based in Family Hubs.
  • A national infrastructure of Children and Family Hubs. These would be a centre point of support for children and families and act as a gateway to multiple services. Each hub would be a base for universal services so that every child is reached.
  • A Government review of early education and childcare funding to ensure it is working as effectively as possible to help children and families who need it most.
  • A single system for supporting families with early years education and childcare, with fees charged in relation to families’ incomes as they are in Sweden and Norway.
  • A national workforce strategy for the early years, focusing on staffing across existing health, local government and early years settings.
  • Better sharing of data between different services, so children who need help do not fall through the gaps or go unidentified. This should include more effective use of a child’s NHS number and Unique Pupil Number so it is possible to match children in different databases.

We are looking to fill the last few places for health visitors to train as “Relationship Champions” – specialising in Couple Conflict & Coping Training.

This is part of an exciting partnership project (with One Plus One and Best Beginnings) and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). With our partners we are creating an exciting new evidence-based digital programme which aims to give disadvantaged children the best start in life.

The programme is aimed at helping parents understand the impact of conflict on their babies, learn to cope with life’s stresses and improve communication within their relationships. The stress associated with the transition to parenthood can trigger a significant decline in relationship quality and increase low-level conflict at home. We know that this work fits with the agenda of many Local Authorities and this high-profile national project is a great opportunity for health visitors to further develop their therapeutic working skills alongside parents.

WE NEED YOU!

We have the last few places to fill to train with us as “Relationship Champions”, to be able to use the new digital intervention with families in this guided method and share it onwards with their colleagues also.

Note: we are working to DWP guidance on areas to prioritise in England.

*previous applicants need not apply.

SCHEDULE:

The programme is being run on a “test-learn-evaluate” strategy adapting an existing module. This is trialling a blended approach where parents will have access to a digital programme guided by health visitors across 3 sessions to maximise impact.

  • September 2019 – First training day – one day training in Leeds (17.9.19) or London (18.9.19)
  • Testing by participants with 3 families. Planning a date for cascade training in November 2019.
  • November 2019 – Second training day – one day training in Leeds (4.11.19) or London (7.11.19)
  • Following the second event, participants will begin cascading the training to 10 colleagues who will then also test with 3 families each.

DON’T MISS OUT!

For more information and discussions about areas of priority please contact: [email protected] or 07539 117775.

How to apply

If you are interested in one of the last few places on this interesting and innovative programme please:

Expressions of interest applications for the last few places will close Friday 26 July 2019 – so don’t delay!

We are part of an exciting partnership project (with One Plus One and Best Beginnings) funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). With our partners we are creating an exciting new evidence-based digital programme which aims to give disadvantaged children the best start in life.

The programme is aimed at helping parents understand the impact of conflict on their babies, learn to cope with life’s stresses and improve communication within their relationships. The stress associated with the transition to parenthood can trigger a significant decline in relationship quality and increase low-level conflict at home. We know that this work fits with the agenda of many Local Authorities and this high-profile national project is a great opportunity for health visitors to further develop their therapeutic working skills alongside parents.

WE NEED YOU!

The programme is being run on a “test-learn-evaluate” strategy adapting an existing module. This is trialling a blended approach where parents will have access to a digital programme guided by health visitors across 3 sessions to maximise impact.

We are offering limited places for health visitors* to train with us as “Relationship Champions”, to be able to use this digital intervention with families in this guided method and share it onwards with their colleagues also.  We have already confirmed a number of places but are looking to fill gaps in some areas, e.g. we have places remaining in the North of England currently. Note: we are working to DWP guidance on areas to prioritise in England.

*previous applicants need not apply.

SCHEDULE:

  • September 2019 – First training day – one day training in Leeds (17.9.19) or London (18.9.19)
  • Testing by participants with 3 families. Planning a date for cascade training in November 2019.
  • November 2019 – Second training day – one day training in Leeds (4.11.19) or London (7.11.19)
  • Following the second event, participants will begin cascading the training to 10 colleagues who will then also test with 3 families each.
Note:
  • The participant and their colleagues trained will be asked to provide data on the effectiveness of the innovative digital programme as feedback for the DWP project.
  • Support will be offered by iHV throughout the programme.

DON’T MISS OUT!

This is non-recurring funding, so it is a one-off offer of training as part of this wider programme with limited places available.

For more information and discussions about areas of priority please contact: [email protected] or 07539 117775.

How to apply

If you are interested in picking up a place on this interesting and innovative programme please:

Expressions of interest applications will close Friday 12 July 2019 – so don’t delay!

iHV invites you to watch a short maternal mental health film and make a REAL difference to people’s lives all in less than 5 minutes …..

Best Beginnings’ powerful film “My Mental Health Matters” has been nominated for a Charity Film Award. The winner is chosen by PUBLIC VOTE and voting closes on Wednesday 30 November.  We would like to help Best Beginnings to win – and invite you to help too!

In 3 simple steps, you can help encourage THOUSANDS of people to watch this important film and increase Best Beginnings’ chances of winning.

Here’s what we’d love you to do:

  1. Watch the film
  2. VOTE
  3. Forward the link to your friends and family and ask them to vote too!

Whether you are young or old, have kids or not, have experienced mental health challenges or not, you can be part of the incredible group of people who are showing the world that maternal mental health matters.

Together we ARE making a difference for future generations.