Best start in life

Family Hubs and the start for life programme are launching a new best start for life strategy as part of their new strategy.

This improved support for families builds on the proud legacy of Sure Start and will help more children be ready to start school.

https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/ will officially replace the Childcare Choices website as the main source of information for early education and childcare support – offering a broader range of resources for families, including eligibility for childcare offers, information about free breakfast clubs and Best Start Family Hub in their area and support on pregnancy through to starting school and beyond.

The policies and offers are considered part of Best Start for life are:

Childcare and early learning:

Under 5s:

• School-based nurseries
• Best Start Family Hubs (current and new)
• Settings providing government funded childcare offers and BSIL branded services (including PVIs and childminders)
• Schools with reception year which are participating in RISE and other BSIL activities
• Childcare entitlements, including 30 hours childcare for working parents of 9-month-olds to school age, 15 hours for 2-year-olds in families receiving additional support and the universal 15 hours for 3- and 4-year-olds, Universal Credit Childcare and Tax-Free Childcare
• Home learning environment support

Including over 5s:

• Breakfast clubs
• Wraparound childcare
• Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF)
• Universal Infant Free School Meals
• Help with the cost of school uniforms

Services to support Healthy Babies (previously known as Start for Life)

• Maternity support
• Health visiting services
• Perinatal mental health and parent-infant relationship support
• Infant feeding advice (with specialist breastfeeding support)
• Safeguarding (shaped by statutory requirements)
• Health services related to Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) (shaped by statutory requirements)