Families of children with special needs will now have improved access to early support in their local communities through updated versions of Sure Start centers. Councils have been instructed to hire a new specialized practitioner in every Best Start Family Hub to offer direct support to families.
Parents will have access to various early interventions, ranging from speech and language sessions for toddlers to specialized parent and baby groups. The government has confirmed the rollout of 1,000 hubs, similar to Sure Start centers, starting in April, with a focus on disadvantaged areas.
Approximately seven out of ten new hubs are planned for the most vulnerable communities, with councils instructed to prioritize areas with significant access barriers. Professionals will provide practical advice to families of children with special needs to address everyday challenges before they escalate, connecting them with additional support when necessary.
An investment of £500 million has been made in the Best Start Family Hub initiative, with potential additional funding for special needs provision. Research by the Institute of Fiscal Studies revealed that early access to Sure Start centers correlated with reduced support needed by children later in childhood.
Plans to reform the struggling special needs education system have been postponed, with the schools white paper now expected in the early next year to allow for further engagement with parents on anticipated reforms.