Lee Peart 05 June 2025

'Burning platform' warning on early years' services

Burning platform warning on early years services image
© PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock.com.

Early years’ services are on a ‘burning platform’ with UK outcomes among the ‘worst in the civilized world’, a leader has warned.

Alison Morton, chief executive, Institute of Health Visiting, issued the warning during evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee this morning.

Morton said: ‘When we look at children's outcomes across England they are some of the worst in the civilized world. There is a burning platform that we need to do better. The remit is too small. We need to think bigger and be ambitious for children.'

The committee heard evidence on local authority provision of early services through the family hubs model.

In January, the Government announced £22.4m funding for expansion of the programme across the country but has faced calls to extend family hubs to all English local authorities in the Spending Review.

Morton added: ‘The family hub model is wonderful and there's some great work that's been happening but there's a whole raft of priorities that are missing.'

The chief executive said family hubs should be used to augment the healthy child programme which provided a blueprint for preventative public health in England.

There are 75 family hubs in the UK serving around 224,000 children.

The family hubs and start for life programme was announced by the Conservative Party as part of the 2021 autumn budget with 75 pre-selected local authorities taking part.

The programme aimed to provide families with the integrated support they need to care for their children from conception, throughout the early years and into the start of adulthood.

Family hubs superseded the Sure Start initiative launched by the Labour Government in 1990s.

Christine Farquharson, associate director, Institute for Fiscal Studies, which has recently published a 10-year report on the impact of Sure Start, said the programme had prevented around 13,000 hospatilisations for 11 to 15-year-olds each year and had provided a £2 return to society for every £1 invested.

Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association's Community Wellbeing Board, said: ‘Family hubs represent an important opportunity for councils to support families and to help them gain access to a range of vital services in their communities.

‘In the Spending Review, we urge the Government to extend the scheme to all councils so these transformative benefits can be felt across the country. Sustained, multi-year funding would give councils the stability they need to plan ahead and work with partners to deliver services that are both effective and sustainable.'

Lee Peart is editor of Hemming Group’s Healthcare Management magazine.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Casual Duty Managers (Sports Centres)

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£14.28 per hour plus 12.07% holiday relief pay al
Casual Duty Managers (Sports Centres)
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Community Support Worker - Centralised Safeguarding Triage

Essex County Council
£25395.00 - £32131.00 per annum + +26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Community Support Worker - Centralised Safeguarding TriagePermanent, Full Time£25,395 to £32,131 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Mechanical Engineer (Gas) - Harlow District Council

Essex County Council
Up to £450.0000 per day
Mechanical Engineer (Gas) Location, HarlowFull time, Temporary 6-12 Months £350.88 PAYE / £450.00 Umbrella Closing Date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Planner - Basildon Borough Council

Essex County Council
£50 - £55 per hour
Principal Planner - Basildon Borough Council Full-Time, Temporary 6 Months Contract 36.25 hours£50-£55 per hour Umbrella Closing Date
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Principal Systems Analyst Applications

Oxfordshire County Council
£46412 - £49282
The ICT Principal Systems Analyst will be the subject matter expert on the Children's Social Care and Early Help Applications. They will be aware of and will contribute to Application roadmap developments, keep abreast of legislative changes and customer Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council
Linkedin Banner