A Better Start Through Improving Child Development Outcomes

Introduction

A learning synthesis from A Better Start (ABS) that provides a summary of emerging evidence across the 3 child development outcome areas which are a core focus for ABS services. These are:

• improving young children’s diet and nutrition

• developing young children’s social and emotional skills

• developing young children’s language and communication skills

This programme Insight shares the learning on how ABS partnerships have supported infant and early childhood development within their work, from the beginning of the programme.

The research aims to identify learning to better support families. It’s intended to inform:

• funders

• policymakers

• local service leaders

Findings

Supporting children’s earliest development has become increasingly complex as families and services navigate significant social and economic pressures. For example:

• child development between conception to age 5 is a time of critical importance and has an impact throughout the life course

• the ABS partnerships play a crucial role in their communities by supporting child development outcomes across speech, language and communication, diet and nutrition, and social and emotional development

• the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current cost of living crisis are not yet known - early research findings suggest young children’s outcomes have been negatively affected

• services supporting families face several challenges, including the impact of inflation and issues within the children’s workforce

• the policy landscape in this area is fast moving and several new initiatives are in place, including Family Hubs and the Start for Life offer – these provide a significant funding boost for 75 local authorities

• commissioning, development and delivery of early intervention and universal services to support child development (across social and emotional development, speech and language and diet and nutrition) is more important than ever in the face of pandemic recovery and the cost of-living crisis