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Liverpool City Council has introduced its new initiative, the *Best Start for Life Local Plan*, aimed at guaranteeing that all children in the city grow up healthy, safe, confident, and prepared for learning. This comprehensive plan emphasizes collaborative efforts among various partners and sets out a strategic framework to enhance early years support by integrating health, education, care, and community services.
Central to the strategy is an ambitious objective: by 2028, 71% of children in Liverpool will reach a Good Level of Development (GLD) by the end of their Reception year. This target also includes achieving a 56.4% GLD rate for children eligible for free school meals. The Good Level of Development measures children’s progress in seven key areas of learning—communication and language, physical development, personal, social and emotional development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design—based on statutory assessments carried out at the conclusion of the Reception year.
The plan defines Liverpool’s approach to early years care, focusing on early identification of developmental needs, inclusive education, enhanced family support, and streamlined pathways from pregnancy through to the age of five. It aligns with nationwide priorities but is also tailored to meet the distinct needs and strengths of families across Liverpool’s diverse communities. Delivery of the plan will focus on three main priorities: providing better support for families earlier, increasing the accessibility of early education and childcare, and elevating quality throughout the early years system. Additional themes include targeting assistance to disadvantaged children, evidencing the impact of interventions, and promoting involvement of fathers and wider family networks.
Councillor Joanne Kennedy, Cabinet Member for Employment, Educational Attainment and Skills, expressed the council’s commitment by saying, “Too many families still face barriers shaped by poverty, inequality, or limited access to the right support at the right time. This plan is our response and a collective pledge to change that.” She highlighted the importance of Family Hubs, which connect families with inclusive services, quality early learning, and supportive community spaces, stating, “When parents and carers feel supported and empowered, children thrive.” Jenny Glennard, Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services, added, “Every child deserves the chance to thrive, no matter where they begin. The early years matter profoundly—they shape a child’s relationships, wellbeing and the foundations of their future learning and life chances.” She further emphasized the collaborative nature of the plan and its goal to create an integrated early years system, concluding with, “Our target for 2028 is not just a number, it is a promise to our children and our city.”
Read the full article on Liverpool Express here: Read More
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