Whole Education recognises that strong early years provision is crucial to a child’s long-term success. Building on our extensive SEND expertise, we developed the Early Years School Improvement programme specifically for local authorities, designed to grow the confidence and capabilities of those working with children at the very start of their educational journey. In its first year, the programme has already had significant impact and is now expanding to bring Local Authority leaders together around pre-school provision, ensuring that the first five years of a child’s life equip them to thrive in school and beyond.

The network of Local Authority leaders within the programme challenges one another’s thinking on key aspects of early years provision, including school readiness and smooth transitions into and beyond early years. They also collaborate with colleagues from health services and the private, voluntary, and independent sectors, collectively understanding and addressing challenges across their local systems.

The programme supports Local Authorities in embedding sustainable, self-improving systems within schools, in ways that are manageable, motivating, and effective. This work improves outcomes for children in the Early Years and builds a strong foundation for long-term success throughout their education.