The Children, Education and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee of West Northamptonshire Council is scheduled to consider a range of important topics at its upcoming meeting. Key discussions are expected to focus on early years provision, the council's Best Start in Life Plan, and the progress of the Family Help Strategy and Family Hubs. The committee will also review its annual report and work programme.

Early Years Provision and the Best Start in Life Plan

The committee is set to consider early years provision across West Northamptonshire, with a particular focus on the council's submission of its Best Start in Life Plan to the government. This plan aims to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has access to high-quality early education and care that supports their development, wellbeing, and readiness for school. The Best Start in Life strategy outlines a vision for integrated, evidence-driven pathways to help children reach their potential and be school-ready. It identifies seven key priorities, including strengthening speech, language, and communication skills from birth to five, improving writing outcomes and closing literacy gaps, reducing inequalities, and enhancing early health outcomes. The strategy also emphasises strengthening the home learning environment and providing integrated parenting support, with a goal of achieving 77.2% of five-year-olds in West Northamptonshire reaching a good level of development by 2028.

A Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) for 2025 will also be reviewed. This mandatory report assesses the supply and demand for childcare in the area and identifies gaps in the market. The CSA highlights that while there appears to be sufficient places for 3 and 4-year-olds overall, there are significant deficits in the Castle and Billing and Rectory Farm ward areas. A widespread need for places for under-2s is also identified, with particular shortfalls in Billing and Rectory Farm, Castle, Kingsthorpe South, and Sixfields. The assessment notes that provider sustainability is a growing concern due to increased costs and funding pressures, exacerbated by workforce shortages. The report also indicates that take-up of the 2-year-old entitlement is below national levels, risking wider disadvantage gaps, and that parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) report difficulty finding suitable places.

Family Help Strategy and Family Hubs

The committee will scrutinise the progress made in implementing the West Northamptonshire Family Help Strategy and the Family Hub model. The Family Help Strategy is described as a joined-up, multi-agency approach, aligning prevention, early help, and safeguarding across partners. It aims to make it simpler for families to access support and for services to work together. The strategy is driven by a Family Help Partnership Board and is structured around five key workstreams: digital and communications, integration of services, Family Hubs, research and innovation, and workforce development.

A network of Family Hubs and spokes has been launched across West Northamptonshire, with five sites opening between March and December 2025, and further sites planned for 2026. These hubs are designed to take a place-based, relational and whole-family approach to family support. Locations were selected based on deprivation data, community assets, and transport access. The hubs have recruited a skilled workforce, with a staff headcount of 23, which is growing. The integration of the Strong Start (0-5) service in April 2025 has strengthened alignment across public health, early years, and family support. Over 50 partner organisations are actively engaged with the hubs, providing a wide range of services. In the first nine months of delivery, the Family Hubs have provided universal and targeted early years support, including sensory sessions, baby massage, sleep workshops, and early communication support. They have also offered support for primary-aged children and their families, including holiday programmes and wellbeing workshops, as well as services for young people aged 11-19 (up to 25 for SEND), including emotional wellbeing support and transition guidance. The digital offer includes a growing website, an active social media presence, and strong engagement on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Annual Report and Work Programme Review

The committee is also scheduled to consider and approve the draft Children, Education and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2025/26. This report will likely summarise the committee's activities and achievements over the past year. Additionally, members will review and note their work programme for the upcoming year, identifying key areas for future scrutiny and discussion.

Youth Offer Strategy Update

An update on the Youth Offer Strategy will be presented to the committee. This strategy aims to guide youth work and youth services in West Northamptonshire up to 2030, with a focus on co-production with young people.