Purpose

The Government’s “Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life” strategy (2025) sets out a national programme of early years reform, focused on children from pregnancy to age 5. Its core ambition is for 75% of children nationally to reach a Good Level of Development (GLD) by age 5 by 2028, alongside a reduction in inequalities that emerge before children even start school.

The DfE required all Local Authorities to publish a Best Start I Life Plan to show how the ambition to improve GLD would be achieved. This is Wiltshire’s Plan https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/best-start-in-life-plan

Wiltshire Council has received £264,100 of Section 31 (S31) grant development funding to deliver Home Learning Environment (HLE) interventions. HLE will contribute to the Government’s ambition of 78.1% of all children in Wiltshire reaching a Good Level of Development (GLD) by age 5 by 2028 and more specifically to increase GLD for disadvantaged children (those eligible for free school meals) from 45.4% (2025) to 57.3% by 2028 in Wiltshire.

The Grant of £264,100 will be used to fund several projects to improve the HLE of more disadvantaged children. The report seeks approval to award £100,000 of the grant development funding to Home Start North Wiltshire to deliver HLE for the year 2026/2027.

Decision

INTENTION TO MAKE DECISION

Following consultation with officers I give notice that I intend to make the following decision to approve to award £100,000 of the grant development funding to Home Start North Wiltshire to deliver HLE for the year 2026/2027.

If you would like to make any representations to me on this issue please do so by 8 June 2026.

Reasons for the decision

An elected member decision is required as the funding allocation exceeds £50,000. All funding used is from Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies Grant.

Alternative options considered

The funding has been allocated to Wiltshire Council for the purpose of Home Learning Environment (HLE) interventions and will only be used for this purpose. No other options have been considered.