Best Start in Life Plan 2026 to 2031

To achieve our vision, we have identified five key priorities. These are based on an understanding of local needs, evidence of what works at this vital stage of development and what families and partners have told us matters most.

Priority 1: Foundations for a healthy childhood

We will help children eat well, stay active and build healthy habits from the very start.

Why is this a priority?

Giving children a healthy start in life is one of the best things we can do for their future. Simple, everyday things like eating well, being active, getting enough sleep, keeping up with vaccinations, and having safe, consistent routines—make a huge difference to a child's development, confidence and wellbeing.

Good nutrition helps children grow and learn, safe sleep keeps babies protected, and regular play and physical activity support strong bodies and healthy minds. Making homes safe reduces accidents, and routine immunisations protect children from serious illnesses. Together, these healthy habits help children feel their best and get ready for learning as they grow.

We want every family to feel supported in building these habits from the very beginning. By making sure parents and carers have clear, accessible information and the right help when they need it, we can reduce avoidable illness and make sure all children have the same chance to be healthy and happy. These priorities will guide our work to improve children's early health and ensure every child in Stockton-on-Tees has the best possible start in life.

What actions are we committing to?

We will:

• support breastfeeding, guide families through healthy weaning, and promote access to Healthy Start vouchers
• encourage simple, daily active play for babies and toddlers, and help families reduce screen time in the early years
• make it easier for families to keep up with childhood vaccinations and provide clear information about vaccine schedules, including the new chickenpox vaccine
• help parents build warm, responsive relationships and create consistent routines that make children feel safe and supported
• share clear advice on safe sleep—day and night—and support families who may not have stable or suitable sleeping arrangements
• provide practical guidance on home safety, car seat use, water safety, choking risks, and day-to-day ways to keep children safe as they become more active

Priority 2: Home learning and play

We will support families to make learning and play fun and part of everyday life at home.

Why is this a priority?

Home learning and play make a big difference to children's early development. Simple things like talking, playing and spending positive time together help build children's language, communication and thinking skills. These everyday interactions give children the best start and help them feel safe, confident and ready to learn.

Families are central to helping children develop good learning habits. By building play and learning into home routines, parents and carers can support their child's development whether they are at home, in early years settings or out in the community. We will ensure all activity is inclusive, culturally sensitive and accessible for children and families with additional needs.

This work supports the Best Start in Life aim to reduce inequalities and help every child be ready for school. It's important that all families can access support. When parents can't get to local groups or services, other ways of reaching them should be offered so they can still take part in home learning.

What actions are we committing to?

We will:

• co-design practical home learning actions with families and partners, ensuring they are realistic, culturally relevant, and grounded in lived experience
• develop simple, accessible resources that help parents integrate play, talk, and learning into everyday routines, for example, talking to your child in the park, supermarket, or on the school run
• provide workshops and digital sessions that model effective home learning activities, including visual role modelling that parents can easily replicate at home
• build parental confidence by offering supportive, strengths-based guidance that recognises families' existing skills and knowledge
• increase accessibility and inclusion by offering sessions in early years settings and nurseries, which are places parents already trust and providing alternative time slots for working families
• promote awareness and consistent messages through community engagement, local campaigns, and shared communication across partners
• target support for families facing barriers to engagement, including those unable to access place-based settings - provide flexible, personalised options for learning at home or in the community
• signpost families to local opportunities such as libraries, playgroups, children and Family Hubs, and community groups and help these groups understand and reinforce home learning principles

Priority 3: Speech, language and communication

We will support children to develop the skills they need to communicate confidently.

Why is this a priority?

The ability to talk, understand words and communicate with others is a vital part of how children learn, shaping their health, wellbeing and future success. These early skills help children express their feelings, build friendships, manage their emotions and enjoy learning as they grow.

We know that the everyday interactions children have with their parents, carers and the adults closest to them make the biggest difference. Talking together, sharing stories, playing, and spending time together helps children to develop strong speech, language and communication skills.

Most children will make great progress when the adults around them feel confident supporting communication from an early age. Some children, however, may need a little extra help along the way. When this happens, early support can make a big difference and help close gaps before they get bigger. For a smaller number of children who have more complex or ongoing communication needs, specialist support should be quick, easy to access and closely connected to the help families are already receiving.

What actions are we committing to?

We will:

• share simple, consistent messages with parents about how to support early communication at home, making sure these are easy for Stockton-on-Tees families to access through antenatal sessions, Family Hubs and early years settings - we will also regularly check with parents to understand how useful these messages are, so we can make sure they reach all families and make a real difference
• develop a simple, easy to understand offer that explains what support is available from pregnancy through the early years
• ensure early years practitioners, health professionals and wider teams that work with families feel confident in supporting babies' communication from birth - this includes training, practical tools and resources that show what good early communication practice looks like
• continue to introduce and grow evidence-based programmes that help children develop strong language skills early on
• strengthen how the Healthy Child Programme and education work together around the 2 to 2.5 year developmental review - families will receive a clear, coordinated response from health visitors, early years settings and, where needed, specialist Speech and Language Therapy (SALT)

Priority 4: High quality early years education

We will ensure every child has access to great early learning experiences that help them grow and learn.

Why is this a priority?

Quality early years experiences help to build the strong foundations children need for future learning, confidence and success. When children spend time in high-quality early years settings—such as nurseries, childminders and playgroups, they are given a safe, welcoming space where they can explore, be curious and learn through play.

In these settings, children have lots of opportunities to discover new things, develop their language and communication, build early problem-solving skills and grow their independence. They can play outdoors, try activities that spark their imagination, and learn how to share, take turns and work together.

Just as importantly, early years settings help children build trusting relationships with adults and make their first friendships. These early social experiences help children feel confident, secure and ready for school when the time comes.

What actions are we committing to?

We will:

• support early years settings to give children the best possible experiences, and we will challenge them where needed to help make sure quality keeps improving
• provide support and challenge to early years settings to ensure that they meet the needs of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families
• help nurseries, schools and childminders share information with each other so children get joined up support that meets their individual needs
• continue to offer the Stockton-on-Tees Healthy Schools and Healthy Settings Programme to support early years to take a 'whole setting' approach to promoting the wellbeing of their children and workforce
• ensure that Stockton-on-Tees has sufficient high quality, affordable, and flexible childcare places across the Borough to meet the needs of all parents and their children
• ensure there are sufficient free early years funded places and work to ensure childcare is accessible to all children including those from those who may need extra support
• actively promote the early learning entitlement for two year olds to eligible families and make it easier for parents to find, understand and access their free childcare place
• work together so that the Healthy Child Programme and early years settings can share information, helping us understand and support each child's needs in the best way
• keep offering training, resources and development opportunities to help early years staff strengthen their skills and expertise

Priority 5: Emotional health and wellbeing

We will support families to ensure their children feel happy, safe and ready to learn.

Why is this a priority?

A child's emotional wellbeing is just as important as their physical health. When children feel safe, loved and supported, they are better able to learn, build friendships, try new things and cope with life's ups and downs. Helping children feel emotionally secure early in life gives them strong foundations for their future health, learning and happiness.

Parents' and carers' wellbeing matter too. From pregnancy onwards, how parents feel can have a big impact on their baby's development. When parents receive the right support, whether that's during pregnancy or once their baby is born, it can help strengthen the bond with their child, support healthy brain development and build positive routines that make family life feel easier.

By focusing on emotional health and wellbeing for both children and parents, we can reduce inequalities, make sure families feel connected to the right services, and give every child the best chance to develop, learn and reach their full potential.

What actions are we committing to?

We will:

• make it easier for both mums and dads to talk about how they're feeling from pregnancy onwards - by checking in early and regularly, we can offer support that feels right for each family and help parents feel more confident and connected
• work closely with families, early years settings and health professionals to notice any early signs that a child may need extra support with their emotions, behaviour or development - this helps us put help in place sooner, before small worries become bigger challenges
• work alongside families, recognising their strengths, values and what's already going well - our support will build on these strengths by listening, encouraging and helping families find solutions that work for them
• actively promote a range of antenatal and early years programmes through our Family Hubs - by making these opportunities easy to find and access, we will help families feel confident, connected and supported right from the start
• use the Mental Health Needs Assessment we have recently carried out to help shape and improve the support we offer to families, utilising what the data shows about emotional health needs across Stockton-on-Tees, ensuring the help available is relevant, accessible and in the right places