Best Start in Life plan

The government's Best Start in Life programme has set a national target that 75% of children aged five achieve a ‘Good Level of Development’ by 2028.

In 2025, the national percentage of children achieving a good level of development was 68.3%, and in Buckinghamshire, the figure was 71.4%.

Every baby, child and family in Buckinghamshire deserves the best possible start in life.

Our vision is for a county where families are supported by a joined‑up, welcoming and easy‑to‑navigate system, from pregnancy through to school and beyond.

We want every child to develop strong foundations that make a lifelong difference:

• early communication
• language
• social and emotional skills

The Best Start in Life programme focuses on the first five years of life, when children grow and learn the fastest. These early years shape children’s development, wellbeing and readiness for school, and the right support during this time can make a real difference.

We want parents and carers to feel informed, empowered and confident in supporting their child’s early learning at home, so children can grow, explore and thrive.

Our Best Start in Life Plan describes how we will work with families and partners over the coming years to improve early outcomes for children aged 0 to 5 years.

A key aim of the plan is to help more children achieve a good level of development by the time they start school.

The plan is shaped by local families, local data and local partnerships, and focuses on what families tell us matters most during the early years.

The programme brings together:

• partners from across the local authority
• health services
• early years settings
• schools
• public health
• social care and community organisations
• parents and carers

By working more cohesively, we want to make support easier to understand and access, helping families feel confident about where to go for help without confusion or having to repeat their story.

Family Hubs play an important role in this approach, providing trusted local places where families can get information, advice and support, while services work more closely behind the scenes.

The Best Start in Life Plan is guided by five shared priorities that help strengthen support during the early years:

• Strong home learning – helping parents and carers build confidence in supporting early development at home.
• High‑quality early education – improving access to high‑quality early years provision, especially where it is needed most.
• A positive start to school – supporting smooth transitions so children start Reception ready to learn and play.
• Early SEND support – identifying additional needs earlier and helping families access advice and support more easily.
• Healthy, resilient families – strengthening how health, wellbeing and family services work together from pregnancy onwards.

Explore the Best Start In Life national parent hub. Information and practical support from pregnancy to childcare, to starting school.