Agenda item - Early Years Strategic Action Plan

RESOLVED: That the Committee –

      i.         Agreed the Early Years Strategic Action Plan for the transition period in implementing the Brighton and Hove Start for Life Strategy in March 2024.

     ii.         Agreed the four priority areas for the Early Years Strategic Action Plan as further detailed in section 3 of this report:

          1) To ensure sufficient and appropriate support for early years children

          identified with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

          2) To ensure clear and consistent assessments and pathways for early

          years children.

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

          4) To ensure early years provision is good quality and supports       outcomes for disadvantaged children with the aim of closing the gap    between them and their peers.

    iii.         Requested an update on the Start for Life Strategy to come to a future meeting of the Children, Young People and Skills Committee.

26.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director Families     Children & Learning outlining a new framework for early years strategic         thinking.

26.2    Ms Robinson was advised that that when it was raised with the Early          Years Team that a child with SEND couldn’t access nursery provision,          they were supported to find a sufficient place. The Head of Family        Hubs also stated that the Family Information Service was utilised to           ensure that there was provision that supported those children and young people.

26.3    Cllr O’Quinn was informed that work was being undertaken on two   pathways to ensure there was early assessment to support early years         children. Resultantly, the age two progress check process would be reviewed to identify          its efficiency and amendments that may be           required. Speech, language, and communication would also be          considered, to establish how consistent           assessment and interventions      could be utilised early on to reduce the demand on those specialist     services down the line. In terms of finances, the Head of Service –    Family Hubs confirmed that we have responded to the           Department for Education’s consultation regarding early years funding and were awaiting the outcome.

26.4    Cllr Grimshaw was advised that the consultation regarding the           recommendation to increase mandatory staff to child ratio in early   years settings had also been responded to.

26.5    Cllr O’Quinn was notified that our Council nurseries were staffed to meet        the needs of the children that were attending, based on the required ratios. The Head of Family Hubs also advised that all nurseries had           spaces for children, but if numbers fell, then considerations would be           given to the number of children that were interested in taking up those        places.

26.6    RESOLVED: That the Committee –

      i.         Agreed the Early Years Strategic Action Plan for the transition period in implementing the Brighton and Hove Start for Life Strategy in March 2024.

     ii.         Agreed the four priority areas for the Early Years Strategic Action Plan as further detailed in section 3 of this report:

          1) To ensure sufficient and appropriate support for early years children

          identified with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

          2) To ensure clear and consistent assessments and pathways for early

          years children.

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

          4) To ensure early years provision is good quality and supports       outcomes for disadvantaged children with the aim of closing the gap    between them and their peers.

    iii.         Requested an update on the Start for Life Strategy to come to a future meeting of the Children, Young People and Skills Committee.