Crawley MP Peter Lamb supports the Government’s new package for children and primary schools

Families in Crawley will receive new support to help children prepare for school, as Labour rolls out a package of measures from primary school offer day through to the first day in September.

The move comes as over a third (37%) of children nationally are starting school without the basic skills they need for the classroom, with teachers and charities finding many children arriving in Reception unable to use the toilet independently, communicate clearly or follow simple instructions.

As part of Labour’s mission to get a record number of children school ready, the guidance published will provide parents across Crawley with a clear idea of the support available to them during one of the most important stages of their children’s lives.

For the first time, new guidance sets out how schools, nurseries, and childminders should work together as one system around families to get children ready for Reception – making clear that Offer Day is the starting gun for children beginning their school education.

It sets three key building blocks for a smooth start: strong relationships with families, close partnership working between schools, nurseries and childminders, and early identification of children’s needs, including SEND. It includes practical examples to follow, like home visits and stay and play sessions, giving families the opportunity to visit their new school, or for teachers to visit children in their early years setting.

The package is backed by continued investment in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme until 2029, and comes as a new national campaign, fronted by award-winning teacher and rapper MC Grammar, gives parents simple ways to practise key skills at home.

The NELI programme helps children who need extra support with speech and language to catch up during Reception. It has already been shown to deliver strong results, with an evaluation finding that it boosts language skills by an additional four months for children on the programme compared to those that aren’t, or up to seven months for children from more deprived backgrounds.

The national campaign from Best Start in Life, featuring MC Grammar, shows that school readiness is about everyday skills like communication, independence and confidence. It features a new ‘Steps for School’ song to help parents and children identify the key skills they’ll need from getting dressed and using the toilet to listening, speaking and following instructions.

With family life proving challenging amidst global conflict, this work forms part of a wider push from the Labour government to make life easier for parents and give children the best start.

Labour is bringing together support from pregnancy through to starting school, including through the rollout of Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority, offering parenting advice, health services and help with children’s development, alongside the first ever guidance to help families manage screen time at home.

Labour MP for Crawley, Peter Lamb said:

“Crawley has some of the lowest social mobility in the country. Fixing this unfairness is one of my biggest priorities as an MP, but achieving this requires government, parents, and education and childcare providers to all do their part.

“No government has ever made the early years such a priority, from opening Crawley’s new Best Start Family Hubs and school-based nurseries at St Andrew’s and West Green primary schools, to more support paying for childcare and the projected fastest reduction in childhood poverty in history.”

“Labour is on your side, that’s why we’re backing parents with new services and practical advice to make life easier.”

Minister for Early Education, Olivia Bailey MP said:

“Starting school is a huge milestone – for children and parents. I remember getting my own children ready for their first day, excited and hoping they’d walk through the door feeling confident.

“From the moment families receive their school place, they should feel supported with simple, practical ways to help their child build confidence, independence and the skills they need for the classroom.

“By bringing schools, nurseries, childminders, and families closer together, we can make sure every child gets off to a strong start – arriving at school feeling settled and ready to learn.”