Issue - items at meetings - Best Start in Life Local Plan

This report updates Cabinet on the development of BCP’s Best Start in Life Local Plan, which delivers the Government’s strategy for improving outcomes from pregnancy to age five and meets the requirement to publish a local plan by 31 March 2026. Key issues include achieving the Government-set Good Level of Development (GLD) targets (79.9% of children overall; 60.1% of children receiving Free School Meals) through whole system collaboration and establishing Best Start Family Hubs to provide integrated health, education and family support in areas of highest deprivation. Programme governance, project management, stakeholder engagement and a readiness survey are in place.

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted: -

(a) the continued development and publication of BCP Council’s Best Start in Life Local Plan to meet the statutory requirement for all local authorities to publish a plan by 31 March 2026;

(b) the use of the Best Start Family Hub delivery grant and associated external funding streams to build workforce capacity, strengthen evidence-based interventions and enable consistent delivery of the expanded Best Start offer;

(c) the establishment and phased implementation of Best Start Family Hubs, beginning with Boscombe as the first site and a second site in the west locality; and

(d) the continued partnership governance arrangements, including oversight by the Early Help Partnership Board, to ensure coordinated delivery across Children’s Services, Health, Early Years, Public Health and wider partners.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children, Young People, Education and Skills

Reason

1. To meet statutory duties and national policy requirements. All local authorities must publish a Best Start in Life Local Plan by 31 March 2026, setting out their approach to improving outcomes from pregnancy to age five. The plan also supports multiple statutory responsibilities, including duties under the Childcare Act 2006, Children and Families Act 2014, and safeguarding frameworks.

To deliver improved child development outcomes and meet Government-set GLD targets. The Government has set ambitious targets for GLD achievement, and BCP Council must demonstrate a whole-system approach to reaching them. The Local Plan sets out how Health, Early Years, Education and Family Support Services will contribute collectively.
To maximise use of available funding and ensure financial sustainability. The Best Start Family Hub delivery grant and aligned funding streams (e.g., Public Health, Children’s Services early intervention grant) provide a time-limited opportunity to build capacity, develop workforce skills, and embed a sustainable delivery model.
To ensure effective oversight, risk management and timely delivery. Clear governance structures, including oversight by the Early Help Partnership Board, are essential to meet tight Government timelines, deliver transformation at scale and ensure risks are monitored and mitigated appropriately.

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People, Education and Skills presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report updated on the development of BCP’s Best Start in Life Local Plan, which delivered the Government’s strategy for improving outcomes from pregnancy to age five and meets the requirement to publish a local plan by 31 March 2026.

Cabinet was informed that key issues included achieving the Government-set Good Level of Development (GLD) targets (79.9% of children overall; 60.1% of children receiving Free School Meals) through whole system collaboration and establishing Best Start Family Hubs to provide integrated health, education and family support in areas of highest deprivation, and that programme governance, project management, stakeholder engagement and a readiness survey are in place.

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted: -

(a) the continued development and publication of BCP Council’s Best Start in Life Local Plan to meet the statutory requirement for all local authorities to publish a plan by 31 March 2026;