Foreword
I am pleased to present this Early Years Strategy as an important part of the City’s work targeted at our youngest children, and their families.
The Early Intervention Foundation presents strong evidence for improved outcomes following early intervention for children with additional social, developmental or health needs. Research also outlines that high- quality early education has a positive effect on children’s long-term outcomes, helping to raise attainment and close the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and children who are not disadvantaged.
The benefits of a secure start to life are immeasurable. By investing in and nurturing children in their first five years of life, we lay the foundations for them to flourish as happy, healthy, individuals with stable economic futures.
This Early Years Strategy continues work undertaken during the last 3 years using local data to identify priorities.
The One Coventry approach champions greater integration of aims and resources across a range of services. Effective partnerships already exist and through this strategy we will build on this for the benefit of children and families.
We have effective Early Years services in Coventry. However, we are ambitious to be even better, by bringing the energy and pace needed to embed, and sustain improvement.
This strategy, developed in partnership with a range of early childhood services, including Education, Health, Early Help, SEND, Family Hubs, Public Health, Schools, Libraries and Early Education providers, sets out our priorities, and commitments for the next three years focusing on the areas that matter most.
I want to thank the colleagues and partners who have helped shape this Early Years Strategy. Together we will use it to develop and deliver services which make a real difference to the children and families in the city.
The local, national, and global context continues to present us with a challenging environment. However, giving children the best possible start in life is vital to reducing inequalities and ensuring that every child can start school happy, healthy, and with the same opportunity to reach their potential and enjoy an excellent quality of life whatever their starting points.
This is why Early Years remains a high priority within the One Coventry Plan, and we strive to make the most of the resources we have, to give every child, every chance, every day.
Sukriti Sen
Director of Children’s and Education Services