When I first became a cabinet member, I attended the LGA’s enhanced children’s services training at Warwick and learned just how important the early years are.
I knew we had a childcare sufficiency plan, and was aware that our public health team had the ‘Best start for life’ initiative and was prioritising the first 1,001 days.
I was keen that we develop a standalone education and childcare strategy that furthered our improvement journey in early years, as we had too many children in years 10 and 11 who were disengaged with education because their needs weren’t met early enough in school.
We reviewed existing published early years and childcare strategies, and found that Essex County Council had produced a document in a format and style that we liked.
Although it was broader than early education and childcare, its priorities aligned with ours, and using this as the basis for our strategy document saved a significant amount of time.
Consulting with the sector at an early stage, articulating the work as it developed and sharing the completed strategy widely was really useful for confirming our priorities, as well as for increasing awareness of and support for them.
Rotherham’s strategy focuses on providing high-quality early childhood education and care, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all children, regardless of their background.
Key components include investing in well-trained educators, fostering strong partnerships with parents and the community, and integrating health and social services to support holistic child development.
Additionally, the strategy emphasises the importance of play-based learning and early literacy and numeracy skills, while also addressing the social and emotional wellbeing of children.
By prioritising these elements, Rotherham can lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success for its youngest residents.