Best Start in Life Local Plan - Community Survey
The Governments 2025 "Best Start in Life" strategy aims for 75% of all children in the country to reach a good development level by 2028. In Southwark we aim to meet a target of 79%, we need to develop a new local plan to deliver this ambitious target.
Our plan will focus on integrating making early years support and childcare stronger in Southwark, and more accessible for all families. We'll also be working to make more services available to every community in our Best Start Family Hubs, covering pregnancy to age five, including SEND support, mental health, and education.
Phases
Feedback and updates
A big thank you to everyone who completed our Best Start in Life community survey and participated in our focus groups. We received feedback from 56 residents through the survey, alongside valuable insights from parents and carers who attended focus group sessions across Southwark.
Your feedback will play an important role in helping us understand families’ experiences of early years services, childcare and support for children aged 0-5 in Southwark.
Feedback summary
While many families reported positive experiences of early years provision, childcare and family support, several areas other themes were noted:
- Families would like clearer information and signposting to local services and support.
- Parents highlighted the importance of affordable, flexible childcare that works around family and work commitments.
- Families of children with SEND described challenges accessing support and navigating services.
- Parents valued face-to-face support through Best Start Family Hubs, Children's Centres, health visitors and community activities.
- Some families told us they were unaware of services or entitlements available to them, particularly during pregnancy and the early years.
Next steps
The survey and focus groups have helped inform Southwark’s Best Start in Life Local Plan and Delivery Plan. The feedback is being used alongside other evidence to identify priorities for improving information, accessibility, service coordination and support for families who may face additional barriers in accessing help. The consultation findings will also help us identify where further engagement may be needed, particularly with communities and groups where their views may be underrepresented.
We will continue to review and collect feedback from families and partners as the Best Start Local plan develops. The Local Plan will be updated to reflect new evidence. You can read the first iteration of the Best Start Local Plan here: Best Start in Life Local Plan