What are we doing in Blackpool Centre for Early Child Development Bercow: Ten Years On What are we doing in Blackpool in the Early Years SLC? Sarah Lambert Development Manager Centre for Early Child Development

Better Start Bank of Blackpool Schools & FE/HE Parents Community Usual Suspects: LA CCG Health Trust Police Bank of Blackpool Schools & FE/HE Better Start Parents Community Led by Voluntary Sector - NSPCC Data re poverty and deprivation Businesses Children’s Centres / PVI

A developmental approach Social & Emotional Development Communication & Language Diet & Nutrition Key Developmental Outcome 1: Healthy gestation and birth Key Developmental Outcome 2: Readiness for school

In the first few years of life, a child’s brain develops rapidly, driven by a mix of experience, environment and genes Early is better…. But it’s never too late Graph Source: P. Levitt (2009) Brains are built from the bottom up on strong foundations Graph Source: C.A. Nelson (2000) The brains ability to change in response to experience The amount of effort this change requires

By age one, the size of a child’s brain is already 72% of adult volume on average and by age two it has grown to 83% of an adult’s volume on average (Knickmeyer et. al. 2008). At age three a child’s brain is estimated to be about twice as active as an adult’s brain (Brotherson 2009).

There Are No Magic Bullets Relationships Matter A balanced approach to emotional, social, cognitive, and language development will best prepare children for success in school and later in the workplace.

Serve and return interactions shape brain architecture

The important role of parents in supporting their child’s communication and literacy skills Community Connectors Baby Steps antenatal classes SOS Activity cards Park Rangers Grant for Two Year Olds Literacy weeks Book Start

Raising Early Achievement in Literacy Undertaken with practitioners Making it REAL for Parents - Making it REAL for Parents is an award-winning programme that works with parents to help them to support children’s early literacy and development. “I’ve noticed more. Everything we do links to early literacy, e.g. talking and early writing.” “I’ve learnt to listen more to my children. As a busy parent I often listened and cleaned or was preparing dinner at the same time. Now I absorb more”. “talking with other parents about the importance of encouraging their children to spot signs saying “It doesn’t matter if you’re not great at reading” it’ll help them to recognise letters.” “I realise it’s what I do with my children that matters.”

The Engagement of Dads

EYFSP scores starting to show impact in SLC Between 2015 and 2016 Listening and Attention B/pool +0.8 Nat + 0.7 Understanding B/pool +1.4 Nat + 0.6 Speaking B/pool +1.5 Nat + 1.0

95% Settings rated Outstanding or Good by OfSTED Staff use a range of excellent teaching strategies to promote all areas of learning, including children's listening and communication skills. They talk to babies as they play and position themselves so that babies can watch their facial expressions. Older children listen in awe as they investigate the different sounds they make by tapping objects around the environment. Private Nursery February 2016 Outstanding Staff promote children's language and communication well in a variety of ways. For example, they encourage children to talk about their experiences, ask questions to check their knowledge and understanding and introduce new words. This helps children to be confident talkers. Pre-school February 2016 Good 95% Settings rated Outstanding or Good by OfSTED 82% of OfSTED Report over last 2 years highlight good practice in SLC The childminder uses a variety of excellent strategies to promote children's communication and language skills. For example, she invites children to tap out a beat to the rhythm of songs and rhymes. Childminder January 2016 Outstanding Training attended has a positive impact upon the quality of teaching. For example, the childminder has introduced a range of useful strategies to promote children’s communication and language skills. Childminder 2016 Outstanding

Social Disadvantage SLC Social Mobility “Three quarters of children who experience persistent poverty throughout their early years start school without the language skills they need for learning” (Read On Get On 2014) Opportunity Area Golden thread for all age groups Early Years Pupil Premium Good commissioning is the key to life chances.

Commissioning for better communication skills is a complex business Joint commissioning across health and education is also a key requirement of the recent SEN and Disability reforms, and of the joint CQC/OfSTED local area inspection framework 1 + 1 = 3

If SLC could be given a national high profile In summary If SLC could be given a national high profile Joint commissioning enforced Serve and return is vital to early brain development It’s cheaper and more effective the earlier you start There are no magic bullets – relationships do matter The effects of getting it right early are life long  

Contacts sarah.cecd@nspcc.org.uk BetterStart.cecd@nspcc.org.uk @CECDBlackpool https://www.blackpoolbetterstart.org.uk/