Good early years development improves children’s life chances. There is recognition of the importance of these earliest years, including the first 1001 days, for achieving the best possible start in life. Support for families may begin before a child is born and expectant or new parents who require additional support. Providing guidance for parents and developmental support for babies and young children is essential for delivering strong health and educational outcomes for children, ensuring they have a positive start in their early years.
The following resources will provide guidance in relation to “Good early Years Development”:
- Open University Early Years courses (external link) - Free open university courses cover topics such as attachment in the early years, children’s perspectives on play, the family at the centre of early learning, introduction to child psychology, play learning and the brain, supporting children’s development
- Early Years Library (external link) - Key skills designed to help early childhood education practitioners support young children’s development and essential skills for life
- Special educational needs and disability course (external link) - Free course that will guide you through practical and interactive exercises that will build your confidence when working with Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators and implement clear goal setting for effective Early Years Education Plans
- Ourplace (external link) - Free online antenatal course for parents of children aged 6 months to 18 years
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority (external link) - Find out how Greater Manchester are going to make sure that every child has the basic skills needed to start school as part of their wider GM strategy
- The Eatwell Guide NHS (external link) - Guidance on how much of what we eat overall should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet
- Speech and language UK (external link) - Progress checker for parents to complete at home, offering support and guidance on how to further develop their children’s speech and language
- What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage - Easy to read guide to support parents with what to expect during their children’s early years in nursery
- Help for early years providers (external link) - Resources to support practitioners working in the early years to improve practice and outcomes for children
- Solihull Approach (external link) - Parenting advice and strategies to support parents of young children through to teenagers. Available in a variety of languages to support families from all backgrounds
- Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework (external link) - Statutory framework for anybody working within the early years sector, setting the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well
- Healthier Wigan Partnership - Useful websites to support babies and children’s health, from breastfeeding support right through to Occupational Therapy and everything in between
- The Communication Trust (external link) - Advice and free training courses to support children with their speech and language development
- Book Trust (external link) - Resources and support to get every child reading regularly and by choice
- Hungry Little Minds (external link) - Short videos and simple, fun activities that parents and children can do together
- NSPCC (external link) - Fun and easy tips to help parents bond with babies and support brain development
- Words for Life (external link) - Activity ideas to support children aged 0-12 with language development
- Big Little Moments (external link) - Ideas to support children to develop into healthy, bright adults
- Speech and language UK (external link) - Information to help understand and support children and young people’s speech, language and communication
- Hungry Little Minds (external link) - The Hungry Little Minds campaign, led by the National Literacy Trust and funded by the Department for Education, encourages parents and carers to adopt positive behaviours to boost their children’s communication, language and literacy development
- ATiny, Happy People (external link) - Simple activities and play ideas to help parents find out about babies and toddlers’ amazing early development
- Observing relationships - This document provides useful guidance when observing bonding and attachment. It provides useful guide of the things to look for in the child, young person and parent.
There are a number of organisations that can support families with good early years development: