Decision - Early Years Strategy

1)           That the Committee agrees five priorities for the Early Years Strategy:

1)        To focus on disadvantage including agreeing a shared definition of disadvantage across services in the early years.

2)        To provide joined-up services through Children’s Centres to strengthen families by supporting child development, parenting, healthy lifestyles and increasing the number of working families.

3)        To ensure children receive early assessments including the health and progress checks at age two and promoting information sharing between health visiting, early years providers and schools.

4)        To ensure there are sufficient early years childcare places in the city so that disadvantaged children take up their free early years entitlement and parents can work.

5)        To ensure early years childcare places are good quality and additional funding improves outcomes for disadvantaged children.

2)           That the Committee notes the extension from 15 to 30 hours of free childcare for three and four year olds with working parents from September 2017.