Based on evidence from the recent A Better Start school readiness-themed insight report, the National Children’s Bureau will be delivering a free webinar for early years practitioners, local authorities and educators, and any professionals interested in childhood development.
The government is aiming to increase the proportion of children reaching school readiness from 68% to 75% by 2028. Our recently published A Better Start (ABS) insight report reveals holistic approaches that go beyond supporting young children to reach school readiness, bringing families, early years practitioners and communities together to give every child a better start in life.
Drawing on fresh insights and real examples from the ten years of the ABS programme covered in the report, the National Children’s Bureau will be delivering a free webinar on Tuesday 24 March from 11:30am to 12:45pm for early years practitioners, local authorities and educators, and any professionals interested in childhood development.
Attendees will be able to reflect on early years policy, shared learning, and real‑world examples from the five ABS sites in Lambeth, Blackpool, Bradford, Nottingham and Southend.
About a Better Start
A Better Start was a ten-year (2015-25), £215 million programme, one of five major programmes set up by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK, to test and learn from new approaches to designing services that aim to make people’s lives healthier and happier.
A Better Start focused on improving the life chances of babies and very young children by changing the way services are commissioned and delivered, involving parents as equal partners at every step. Five A Better Start partnerships based in Blackpool, Bradford, Lambeth, Nottingham and Southend supported families to give their babies and very young children the best possible start in life.
The National Children’s Bureau is producing themed Insight Reports and guidance throughout 2026 that synthesise evidence generated by the five partnerships to inform future policy, practice and systems change.