ESSEX County Council has set out how it will continue to achieve positive outcomes for young children and families, as well as level up early opportunities for those living in areas of deprivation, so that every child in Essex gets the best start in life.

Embedding a lifelong passion for learning, improving access to high quality, inclusive childcare places and removing barriers for young children living in areas of deprivation, are just some of the six key aims set out in Essex County Council’s (ECC) new Early Years and Childcare strategy.

Launching today, the strategy outlines how ECC will continue to help all children to reach their full potential and empower the early years workforce across Essex in recognition of the vital part they play in helping children get the best start in life.

It also sets out how the Essex early years system will support wider Levelling Up efforts across the county – ensuring that young children living in areas of deprivation in Essex can grow into emotionally and physically healthy adults.

Empowering families and instilling the foundations of good health and wellbeing in children early on in life cannot be overestimated and the new strategy – which is based on engagement with professionals and families – is ECC’s commitment to doing so over the next five years and beyond.

Cllr Beverley Egan, ECC’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Early Years, said: “The first five years of a child’s life are crucial; the things that they experience during this period can determine the course of their later life. It is therefore a critical time to provide support for them and their families.

“I am extremely proud of the good outcomes we already achieve for young children in Essex. As an early years’ system, we will continue to build on this positive progress under our new strategy. We are very clear that there will be no barriers to any child reaching their full potential.”

ECC’s approaches are based on insight and informed by evidence. Engagement with professionals and families will be ongoing to ensure their needs are being met and to understand the impact of the new strategy.

Read more about ECC’s vision for early years and childcare in Essex.