Coventry City Council, in partnership with key local organisations, is proud to announce the launch of its “Best Start in Life” Strategy.
The comprehensive initiative is aimed at ensuring every child in Coventry has a bold start and Bright Futures, alongside an action plan to improve child development and health and educational outcomes for children, and their families, from birth to 5 years.
The strategy sets out a clear vision for supporting children, parents, and carers, with a focus on early intervention, health and wellbeing, and reducing inequalities across the city.
It reflects the shared commitment of local services - including health, education, voluntary agencies, and community groups - to work together to deliver meaningful, lasting impact for Coventry families.
The Best Start in Life Strategy 2026-2029 prioritises giving every child the opportunity to thrive, recognising that the early years are critical in shaping lifelong outcomes. Key areas of focus include:
- Improving children’s school readiness
- Improving maternal and infant health
- Supporting strong parent-infant relationships
- Enhancing early education and childcare provision
- Identifying and addressing additional needs early
- Reducing health and developmental inequalities
Cllr Mal Mutton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Coventry City Council, said: “Every child deserves the best possible start in life, and this strategy represents our commitment to ensuring families in Coventry have access to the support they need, when they need it.
“By working together across organisations and with our communities, we can give our youngest residents the strongest possible foundation for their future.”
At the centre of the strategy are Coventry’s Best Start Family Hubs, which play a vital role in delivering accessible, joined-up support for families.
These hubs act as a single point of access for families with children from conception to age 19 (or up to 25 for those with additional needs), providing guidance, services, and early help in welcoming community-based settings.
They bring together professionals from across disciplines - including health visitors, early years practitioners, family support workers, and partner agencies - to ensure families receive coordinated, holistic support.
Through the Best Start Family Hubs, families can access:
- Early help and parenting support
- Health and development services, including maternity and early years advice
- Support for infant feeding and emotional wellbeing
- Access to childcare and early education guidance
- Help with financial resilience and wider family needs
By improving connectivity between services, the Best Start Family hubs make it easier for families to access the right support at the right time - helping to prevent challenges from escalating and improving long-term outcomes. The Hubs were praised in a recent Ofsted inspection, which rated the city’s Children’s Services as ‘outstanding’.
Sukriti Sen, Director of Children’s Services at Coventry City Council, said: “Our Best Start Family Hubs are a cornerstone of this strategy. They bring services together in a way that is accessible, welcoming, and responsive to the real needs of families.
“By supporting parents and carers early, we can make a lasting difference to children’s lives.”
Developed in consultation with families, professionals, and community stakeholders, the strategy places collaboration at its heart. It builds on existing strengths within Coventry’s integrated services and seeks to enhance partnership working to deliver more joined-up, accessible support.
The initiative also aligns with wider city priorities, including tackling poverty, promoting inclusion, and improving overall health outcomes.
The “Best Start in Life” Strategy will be implemented over the next three years, with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and ongoing evaluation to ensure progress. Regular updates will be shared with partners and the public as the programme develops.
Families and professionals are encouraged to engage with the strategy and contribute to its success and there will be a special event for families with children under 5 in the Autumn.