Reading publishes strategy to give children the best start in life

A new Council strategy that sets out how the town will come together to help babies and children have the best possible start in life has been published.

Reading’s Best Start in Life Strategy recognises that the first 1,001 days of a child’s life are crucial to growth, development, learning and thriving throughout childhood and into adulthood.

Developed in partnership with voluntary groups, public services, local families and communities, the ambitious new strategy combines midwifery, health visiting, early years, libraries and culture, family support and mental health, as well as services that support neurodivergence, special educational needs and disabilities, and care.

It signposts to a wide range of support including help with housing, debt advice, cooking skills, guidance around substance and alcohol dependency, support for mums and dads-to-be, and much more.

Based on feedback from families, young people and professionals, Reading will focus on five strategic priorities, delivered through six integrated areas of work, which reflect the areas where early intervention has the greatest impact, and where inequalities are most evident:

1. Strengthening perinatal and early health support
2. Earlier Identification of neurodivergence and SEND
3. Stronger home learning and early language support through outreach to families who face the greatest challenges and adversity at home
4. Strong early years provision and workforce development
5. Family Hubs as inclusive, local, place-based accessible support
6. Stronger partnerships and improvements in health visiting and school nursing.

As part of the strategy, Reading’s children and young people developed a vision statement that describes the wider Council vision – “Your voices will be heard, and you will be supported to prepare for the future, reach your full potential and become the best person you can be.”

Cllr Wendy Griffith, Lead Councillor for Children, said:

“We are incredibly proud of this strategy which reflects our ambition as a town to give all our children the best start in life.

"Our approach to early years support is built on being respectful, inclusive, family-centred, trauma-informed, accessible and welcoming, and the strategy brings these principles to life.

“We want this to provide a foundation for integrated neighbourhood support throughout our communities’ lifetimes, so that every child in Reading has equal access to good quality support and help, in the right place, and at the right time.”

Cllr Rachel Eden, Lead Councillor for Education and Public Health, said:

“The first 1,001 days of a child’s life, from conception to age two, are critical to learning, wellbeing and future outcomes. For this reason, we recognise that investing in babies, young children and families creates lasting benefits across education, health and society.

“This strategy, developed in response to the Government’s Best Start in Life policy, will bring our town together to improve outcomes from the earliest moments of life.

“Our strategy is ambitious, but our children deserve nothing less.”