UK Government puts early years at the heart of Plan for Change
In a major boost for Act For Early Years campaigners, the United Kingdom Government has pledged to focus on giving every child the best start in life.
Investment in childcare and early childhood education has been placed right at the heart of a new Plan for Change unveiled yesterday by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The focus is on breaking the link between a child’s background and their future success by:
- Providing accessible, integrated maternity, baby and family support services during the critical first 1,000 days to give every child the best start in life.
- Delivering high-quality early education and childcare to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Act For Early Years – launched by Theirworld last year and now a movement of more than 150 global partners – has been calling for increased investment in early childhood by governments and donors.
Theirworld Chair Sarah Brown said: “We welcome the UK Government’s decision to place the early years at the heart of The Plan for Change and set every child up for the best start in life.
“This commitment is backed by robust evidence, which consistently shows that investing in early childhood drives transformative outcomes – multiplying opportunities for learning, improving health and wellbeing, and breaking cycles of poverty and inequality.
“Such investments yield far-reaching benefits, not only for children and families but also for governments, businesses and communities, ultimately shaping a stronger and more equitable future for generations to come.”
The Plan for Change says 80% of parents struggle to access services such as antenatal classes, health visitors, parenting support, baby and toddler groups, and affordable, high-quality early education and childcare.
The plan outlined the ways in which many young children are not developmentally ready when they start school – echoing the findings of a Theirworld report released in September. Our global survey of teachers revealed that millions of four and five-year-olds beginning their primary education are unable to wash their hands, go to the toilet independently, identify numbers and letters or read simple words, including their own name.
The Plan for Change said childcare is too often unaffordable or not available at all. This lack of support contributes to too many children not being ready to start school. Once at school, gaps persist and widen, with too many children going on to leave school without essential qualifications and skills.
The UK Government said breaking down barriers is key to ensuring children can grow and thrive. The Plan for Change added: “All children should have every opportunity to succeed, no matter who they are, where they’re from, or how much their parents earn.
“Opportunity starts with children’s crucial early years, where families build strong relationships and children learn and develop.”
The UK Government has set a mission objective of getting a record proportion of children in England starting school ready to learn. The target is 75% of five-year-olds reaching a good level of development in the early years foundation stage assessment by 2028 – an increase from 67.7% currently.
Sir Keir Starmer, unveiling the plan, said the lack of school readiness is “an affront to the British value of equal respect if we do not give every child, whatever their background, a fair chance to succeed”.
The Plan for Change said 6,500 extra teachers will be recruited and outlined other steps to help give children the best start in life. They include:
- Rolling out government-funded childcare support to improve access
- Working in partnership with the early years sector towards a stronger system
- Strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood
Sarah Ronan, Director of the UK’s Early Education and Childcare Coalition, welcomed the early years element of the Plan for Change, which outlines five national missions.
She said: “This isn’t just the right thing to do for children but also the sensible thing to do for the whole of society, delivering maximum economic and social return. The Plan for Change marks a welcome move towards that, and we fully support the Government’s ambition for children and families during those foundational years.”