A scheme to support new parents should be given a minimum level of long-term funding to enable councils to plan provision for longer periods of time, watchdogs say.
The Start for Life programme offers a range of services, including health visits and parenting courses, aimed at supporting parents from pregnancy until their baby is two years old.
A joint review of the service by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), based on visits to six local areas, found that most families had a positive experience of Start for Life.
However, the watchdogs urged the Government to commit to a minimum level of long-term funding for the programme nationally to allow local areas to establish services and build parents’ trust in Start for Life provision.
The review also called for a common set of national outcomes for the service and a review of reporting requirements ‘to reduce the administrative burden on local authorities.’
