Conclusion
The transformative changes outlined in the national Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life strategy mark the beginning of a new chapter for the UK, and for Lincolnshire – one that places our children, families, and communities firmly at the heart of everything we do.
Policy summary
This strategy integrates with some of the key initiatives, as below:
Local:
- Better Belonging Lincolnshire: a strategic plan setting out Lincolnshire’s vision to ensure sufficient, inclusive, and local SEND and Alternative Provision
- Child Neglect Strategy 2025-2028: a multi-agency plan to identify and tackle child neglect early so children are safe and supported to thrive.
- Lincolnshire Better Births Strategy: a joined up antenatal and postnatal offer. It brings professionals together at the earliest opportunity to support families. Focusing on health equity and prevention.
- Lincolnshire's Family Help Strategy 2026-2029: a shared, county-wide commitment to providing timely, coordinated, whole-family support so children can grow up safe, supported, and able to thrive within their communities.
- Lincolnshire's Inclusion Strategy: setting an inclusive ethos that prioritises early help and community support for children with SEND.
- Infant Feeding Ambition Strategy 2025-2032: a partnership commitment to ensure every family receives timely, skilled, and accessible breastfeeding support so babies have the healthiest start in life.
- Parent Infant Relationship Strategy 2026-2031: Lincolnshire is due to release a plan to strengthen early parent–infant bonds through coordinated support in the first 1,001 days so every baby can develop secure, healthy relationships.
- Vaccination & Immunisation System Strategy 2025-2030: a county-wide plan to boost vaccination uptake through accessible, high-quality, joined-up services and targeted outreach that reduces inequalities and protects public health.
- Meeting the Needs Together 2026: Lincolnshire’s unified framework that guides practitioners to provide timely, consistent, whole-family support so children are safe, supported, and able to thrive.
National:
- Early Years Foundation Stage:(EYFS) Statutory Framework strengthened safeguarding and workforce routes; defines GLD and standards for 0–5.
- Families First Partnership Programme: earlier help, stronger family networks, expert child protection teams, and clearer safeguarding arrangements. Designed to keep more children safe at home and improve long-term outcomes through social care reform.
- Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life (2025): A national plan to boost early child development by 2028 through stronger family services, easier access to childcare, and higher-quality early education.
- Healthy Child Programme (HCP) 0-19: a national public health programme in England focuses on prevention, early identification, and intervention from pregnancy through to age 19 (or 25 for young people with SEND).
- 10 Year NHS Plan (2025): prioritises maternity care and aids the groundwork for integrated services. Designed to bring care closer to home, reduce inequalities, and improve school readiness and long-term outcomes for children and young people.
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023: enhancing multi-agency collaboration across the entire support and protection system for children, young people and their families.
- CORE20Plus 5: designed to support Integrated Care Systems to drive targeted action in healthcare inequalities improvement.