Supporting children in the preschool years
Supporting children in the preschool years
For a country that works for all children and young people.
We are calling on the government to put children first. Our 2024 report series provides evidence-based plans and recommendations on how to improve outcomes for children and young people in the North of England and beyond. Published alongside 2025 report updates, new practitioner toolkits have been designed to support schools, child health services, and local authorities to implement the report recommendations and put children first. #ChildrenFirst
Produced jointly by Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives, the ninth report in the Child of the North 2024/25 campaign series makes a series of proposals to tackle the high number of children starting school not ‘school ready’, and the crisis in early years and childcare provision – particularly in disadvantaged areas.
First published in October 2024, An evidence-based approach to supporting children in the preschool years, sets out how high quality early years settings play a crucial role in supporting successful development in young children, including their language, social, emotional, and physical skills, and behaviour. Yet, the crisis in preschool early years and childcare provision – with many nurseries closing over recent years and unprecedented recruitment and retention challenges – has jeopardised the quality of provision and opportunities for children.
An update, Supporting children in the preschool years: Preschool children are the UK’s future released in November 2025, is the ninth update in a twelve-week #ChildrenFirst campaign, released alongside toolkits designed to support schools, child health services and local authorities to implement the report recommendations and improve outcomes for all children.
The 2024 report described the crisis where a third of children are arriving at school without the core skills needed to achieve and thrive. One year later, new government policies reflect our evidence and offer cautious optimism, with growing evidence of what works to engage families and improve preschool outcomes.
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Supporting children in the preschool years: Preschool children are the UK’s futurePublished November 2025 This update highlights:
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An evidence-based approach to supporting children in the preschool yearsPublished October 2024 Our analysis reveals that:
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The report was launched on 4th October 2024 at an extraordinary meeting with paediatricians within the Healthier Together Programme. Healthier Together works in partnership with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) to support integrated working across services to provide high-quality care and help to families. The meeting illustrated an unprecedented alliance across universities, health, education and care to support the new Government and create a step change in approaches to child health.
How To Guides
A series of toolkits have been developed to help practitioners and organisations take practical steps to improve the health and wellbeing of the children and young people with whom they work directly. Building on the findings of the Child of the North reports, these ‘How To’ guides provide evidence and suggestions about how all parties can work together.
Webinar
In October 2024 a number of the report’s authors came together to discuss the report’s findings and policy recommendations, including:
- Dr Lauren Powell (University of Sheffield)
- Dr Emma Blakey (University of Sheffield)
- Dr Danielle Matthews (University of Sheffield)
- Mariela Rios Diaz (OxEd and Assessment)
- Christian Bunting (Bradford Birth to 19)
Anne Longfield, Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives, said:
“I have heard many concerning experiences from school staff about children arriving at Reception wearing nappies, still using buggies, and unable to communicate at the expected level or to socialise with other children.
“Some of these children have developmental problems, struggle with speech and behaviour, and can require significant extra attention and support from already overstretched schools.
“The Government’s commitment to 300 new state nurseries is an opportunity for schools and communities in disadvantaged areas to tackle these problems head on by establishing new early years support to boost children’s development and tackle poverty by providing childcare support to help parents work.
“None of these problems will fix themselves. Our preschool system is disjointed, is struggling with a recruitment and retention crisis, and has been historically underfunded.
“This report provides affordable, realistic proposals and shares best practice that will support a new focus on transforming support for children and families. If we get it right, we can transform the life chances of millions of children.”
Professor Mark Mon Williams, Child of The North report series editor, said:
“The UK has forgotten that healthy trees grow from well nurtured seeds and saplings. The evidence shows clearly that many of the problems blighting the NHS, school and criminal justice system exist because we didn’t adequately support young children before they arrived in school.
“The cost to the children and families who are left unsupported is heart wrenching. But there are also immense long term costs to our economy and our society. We need a radical overhaul of how we support children in their early years and especially in areas suffering from structural disadvantage.
“The time has come for everyone throughout the UK – including politicians – to help nurture the next generation through their early years so our country can enjoy the benefits of a healthy and well educated population.”
Judy Clegg, Professor of Speech and Language Therapy, University of Sheffield, said:
“Many children are starting school without the speech, language, and communication skills they need to begin learning. Urgent action is required to provide support, so every child can listen, talk, and engage with others—skills essential for thriving in the classroom, learning to read, making friends, and succeeding in school. Increased funding for health and early years education to collaborate effectively is crucial and expanding speech and language therapy services is vital to ensuring no child is left behind.”
Dr Lauren Powell, Lecturer in Psychology and Education, University of Sheffield said:
“There is a clear and urgent need to transform support for children, families and the early years’ workforce. As a researcher, I believe it is our ethical and moral responsibility to meaningfully include voices of those with lived experiences in the design of information and services that aim to support them. My hopes are that this report will lead to just this – ensuring children and their families are listened to, considered, and harnessed to improve current support provisions.”
Dr Camilla Kingdon, Former President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
“As a neonatologist I talk to parents in my follow-up clinic about parenting and how they can support the development of their baby. Most parents are desperate to do the best for their children and while common sense is often all that is needed, we all know that extra support and guidance can make a world of difference. The years leading up to starting school are fundamental to how a child transitions into education. The data is telling us that far more needs to be done – especially in our more disadvantaged communities. I am so delighted with this report and the examples, some of them really simple, of how we can turn our current situation around. The loss of human capital cannot continue. Our children deserve more – and we can do better.”
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Previous Reports
Previous reports can be found archived on our Child of the North Reports page.
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Stephen Parkinson, Research Partnership Manager
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