Action plan launched to give children best start in life

01 April 2026

Giving children the best start in life through quality education, strong family support, and responsive services, is the aim of a new action plan being launched today.

North Northamptonshire Council has introduced Best Start in Life (BSiL) Action Plan which has been shaped by local parents and carers, as well as partner organisations working on behalf of children and families. It will promote strong partnership working across health, early years, education, family hubs, SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and the wider community.

The two-year plan, which builds on the significant progress already achieved through North Northamptonshire’s Family Hub Transformation Programme, sets out the approach to improving early childhood outcomes from conception to age five. It also supports the council’s ambition that all children achieve, by March 2028, a ‘Good Level of Development’ – a statutory measure used to ensure children are meeting expected levels. 

The action plan is founded on an agreed vision stating: “In North Northamptonshire we want all children to have the best start in life by ensuring they benefit from high quality early education, strong family support and responsive, coordinated services that nurture their learning, development and wellbeing from conception.”

It aims to ensure children’s needs are identified earlier, and to help families receive high quality provision. It will also help reduce inequalities in child development, boost school readiness, and align the early years offer with the Family Help transformation and the wider ‘Families First’ approach.

There are six priority areas:

• Improve early identification of emerging needs in the prime areas, with a continued focus on communication and language, ensuring children and families receive the right help at the right time from the right practitioner
• Strengthen the sustainable quality of Best Start in Life provision and workforce development, ensuring all practitioners are skilled, confident and supported
• Improve early identification of health needs, contributing to stronger outcomes in ‘Good Level of Development’ through better coordination between health, early years and Family Hubs
• Enhance the physical Family Hub presence, exploring opportunities to expand Best Start Family Hub sites and ensuring an equitable offer close to where families live
• Support parents from conception and carers to build strong early learning foundations through evidence-based programmes and wider Best Start activities
• Strengthen and align existing system leadership to secure a fully integrated and sustainable Best Start system, improving coordination and communication across all partners to deliver seamless, consistent support

This plan reflects our shared commitment to ensuring every child grows up healthy, confident and ready to learn. The earliest years of life shape a child’s future in profound ways, and it is our responsibility as a partnership to make sure families receive the right support from the very start.Cllr Elizabeth Wright, Executive Member for Children, Education and Families

The action plan will be overseen by the Family Hub Advisory Board, Best Start in Life Steering Group, and NNC Health & Wellbeing Board.

North Northamptonshire is fortunate to have dedicated practitioners, passionate families and a growing network of Family Hubs that already make a significant difference to children’s lives. However, we also recognise that some children face barriers that can affect their development and life chances. This strategy provides a clear and coordinated plan to reduce inequalities, strengthen early identification, and ensure that our support is accessible, inclusive and high quality. By focusing on prevention, partnership and the lived experience of families, we will build a system that enables more children to achieve a Good Level of Development and supports parents and carers to flourish in their vital role.Cllr Elizabeth Wright

View the Best Start in Life (BSiL) Action Plan on the council website.