Integrated services are vital to ensuring 75% of five-year-olds have a good level of development (GLD) by 2028, research reveals.

Commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA), the research is based on data about 117 multi-agency workforce stakeholders and 20 parents from 60 council areas across the country. It found that integrated services are key to attaining the national GLD target.

The research explains that integrated services involve collaborative working across different agencies to deliver support to children, young people and families, with an emphasis on shared leadership, governance and accountability.

However, the LGA says that challenges such as workforce limitations and reduced access to high-quality early years childcare and education, as well as deprivation and poverty, create obstacles to meeting the target.

According to the research, merging local health and education services, including multi-agency data sharing, was essential in helping councils boost outcomes for children.

While councils are striving to meet local needs through tailored working styles, the research found that Family Hubs funding disparities (such as Healthy Babies funding) is hindering local authorities in their attempts to establish integrated education and health provision.

To support GLD outcomes, the research outlines the importance of widening early intervention models from the age group of three-to-four-years to nought to five to facilitate earlier access to support.

It suggests reducing the entitlement gap by providing childcare funding for all children, as well as urging investment in community-based hubs and outreach programmes to help families experiencing difficulties due to poor housing, language barriers, digital exclusion, or low confidence.

Parents also called for enhanced SEND provision and more ‘reliable, consistent information’.

Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Chair of the LGA’s Children, Young People and Families Committee, said the research ‘highlights the clear benefits of data sharing between local services to support earlier intervention and ensuring all children under five are supported’.

To ensure services are sustainable and equally accessible across England, Cllr Hopgood reinforced the need for consistent workforce investment and support.

Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the LGA’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, added that the LGA has ‘serious concerns’ about the Government’s plans to omit councils that are newly joining the Best Start Family Hubs programme from Start for Life funding eligibility.

She said: ‘We are urging the Government to review funding decisions to ensure a level playing field for all councils so that every child, regardless of where they live, can access the support they need. Without equitable funding the promise of Family Hubs and achievement of our GLD targets cannot be fully realised.’