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Accelerating the Best Start in Life: What Works to Improve Early Childhood Outcomes

We supported the Local Government Association (LGA) to explore what works in improving early childhood outcomes, with a particular focus on accelerating progress towards the national ambition of 75 per cent of children achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD) by age five.

Through national engagement, a rapid evidence review and a series of in-depth workshops with local authorities, health partners, early years providers, the voluntary sector and parents, the research provides a clear, practical view of what helps areas move faster – and what continues to get in the way.

The work was commissioned by the LGA to inform its Best Start in Life Taskforce and to support both local delivery and national policy development, aligned with the government’s Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life strategy.

What we did

The research combined multiple sources of insight to build a robust picture of the early years system across England. This included:

  • a rapid review of national and international evidence
  • ten multi-agency workforce workshops involving 117 professionals from over 60 local areas
  • two parent workshops and additional interviews with parents of children aged 0–5
  • eight in-depth case studies highlighting local innovation and practice

This approach enabled us to identify both system-wide patterns and practical, place-based solutions.

Key findings: what makes the biggest difference

1. A whole-system focus on the 0–5 years

Local areas making the most progress take a whole-system approach, focusing on the full 0–5 age range rather than concentrating primarily on children aged three and four. Early support – particularly in pregnancy and the first two years – is critical to securing later GLD outcomes.

2. Early identification and early intervention

Consistent, high-quality early identification is one of the strongest levers for improving outcomes. Effective areas prioritise:

  • strong use of Healthy Child Programme contacts
  • integrated 2–2½ year reviews between health and early education
  • early support for speech, language and communication needs
  • proactive identification of emerging SEND and neurodiversity

Early intervention was widely described by professionals as “where the system has the greatest chance to change the trajectory”.

3. Tackling inequality requires targeted and universal action

The research confirms that deprivation, poverty and adverse childhood experiences remain the strongest predictors of poorer outcomes at age five. Areas making progress combine universal offers with targeted support for disadvantaged families, using local data to identify who is missing from services and why.

4. Workforce capacity and capability are critical

Workforce challenges cut across health, early years and family support services. Promising approaches include:

  • ‘grow your own’ recruitment and progression pathways
  • multi-agency workforce development and shared training
  • specialist roles embedded within universal services
  • investment in reflective practice and peer networks

Valuing and supporting the early years workforce was consistently linked to higher quality provision and more sustainable delivery.

5. Strong leadership, integration and shared purpose enable scale

At a system level, integration and collaboration are key enablers. Areas that are moving fastest typically demonstrate:

  • strong, visible leadership focused on shared outcomes
  • clear local visions aligned to GLD and Best Start in Life priorities
  • shared data and intelligence across health and education
  • time invested in building trust and relationships
  • a commitment to learning, reflection and continuous improvement

What parents told us matters most

Parents highlighted that the biggest positive impact on their child’s development comes from:

  • reliable, consistent information about parenting and child development
  • informal, accessible support and peer connection
  • timely and compassionate support for SEND, particularly neurodiversity
  • play-based opportunities, such as free or low-pressure stay-and-play groups

Above all, parents emphasised the importance of being treated with kindness, respect and compassion, and of being involved as partners in supporting their child’s development.

From insight to action

This research offers clear, evidence-informed lessons for both local areas and national policy. It shows that progress towards the 75 per cent GLD ambition is achievable, but only through sustained investment, strong system leadership and a relentless focus on early, equitable support.

We are proud to have supported the LGA on this work and to contribute practical insight that can help areas build on what works, remove common blockers and give more children the best possible start in life.

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