NCB is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of research, practice and policy to convene and connect across sectors to drive meaningful change from the government's focus on giving children the best start in life.
With renewed momentum within government, along with the personal interest of the Prime Minister in the early years agenda, this is a critical period in which we can shape lasting, system-wide change, and improve outcomes for babies, young children and their families.
NCB recognises the urgency and opportunity to draw on learning from innovative long-term programmes like the Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP) and A Better Start, to support our role as a leading voice for early years policy and practice, so that all babies, young children and pregnant women* can benefit.
Across the children’s sector, we continue to welcome the government’s Best Start in Life (BSiL) strategy as a vital step towards tackling persistent inequalities that can impact a child’s outcomes from conception to reception. The strategy represents a major statement of intent on investment in child development outcomes, underpinned by the national ambition that around 75% of children achieve a Good Level of Development (GLD) by 2028.
Find out how we can help local authorities meet the GLD target
Recent national measures, including the removal of the two-child limit, a rise in the minimum wage, the development of a Child Poverty Strategy and the launch of the Best Start Family Hubs, reinforce the potential for systemic change through successful implementation.
While we recognise the launch of the Hubs and accompanying guidance on more joined-up service provision as an important moment, we have published a series of policy recommendations that we believe the government must take on board if it is to successfully achieve the objectives set out in its Best Start in Life strategy.
In May 2025 we hosted a summit, From Conception to Reception, that brought together senior representatives from across the early years sector to help shape a shared vision for the early years. You can find a summary of what was discussed at the event in the document available for download below. A further cross-sector summit in December 2025 brought together senior representatives from local government and the voluntary and community sector (VCS) to focus specifically on implementation. You can read a summary of the consensus reached across a number of areas of focus during that meeting in the document below.
Our recommendations draw on insights from our own work and from insights shared from across the children’s sector, including at both summits, and the policy briefings below represent a bird’s eye view of key thematic areas which will need enhanced focus and potential next steps for ensuring all babies and young children receive the best start in life.
Read NCB's policy briefing on implementing the BSiL strategy
Read NCB's policy briefing on the priorities for implementation
* We refer to ‘pregnant women’ in the interest of readability, recognising that there are pregnant people who do not identify as women.