As Chairman of the Early Years Healthy Development Review I have visited several local authority areas over the past few months to see the work underway to implement the Best Start for Life vision.

In May I visited Stoke on Trent and was joined by local MP Jo Gideon to see the provision of early years support by the local authority. During my trip I visited the Treehouse Children’s Centre and the Westfield Children’s Centre, meeting members of the early years workforce, parents, babies and volunteers alongside representatives from the Thrive at Five and Family by Family programmes. 

Their suggestions and the opportunity to experience the services they are providing have been valuable in shaping the implementation of the Best Start for Life vision.