Best Start in Life – New UK Government Information Website
The UK Government has recently launched a new website to help families access early education and childcare support. The Best Start in Life website (https://beststartinlife.gov.uk) officially went live on 1 September, replacing the previous Childcare Choices website.
All existing support for parents remains unchanged, including childcare support for working parents and the 15 and 30 hours childcare offers. If you try to visit the old Childcare Choices website, you’ll automatically be redirected to the new site. Additional information has been added to include support from pregnancy through to starting school and beyond.
Confusion for parents living outside England
Most of the information on the Best Start in Life website is focussed on England and therefore parents using the site from Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales will be redirected away from this to find out what they may be entitled to within their own region.
What’s New?
The Best Start in Life brand brings together all services, offers and support available to help guide and support parents from pregnancy, through their child’s journey into childcare, to starting school and beyond.
The new website offers a wider range of resources for families. Parents can find information about eligibility for childcare offers, details about free breakfast clubs in their local area, and support from pregnancy through to starting school and beyond. The site also provides information about Best Start Family Hubs available in different areas.
Prime Minister’s Commitment to parents
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has written to parents reaffirming the government’s commitment to give children the best possible start. Unfortunately, this letter only focusses on the support for families in England and makes no mention of the support available or challenges faced by families living in the rest the UK.
You can visit https://beststartinlife.gov.uk to explore all the support and services available to help give your child the best start in life. But for relevant information and advice for families living in Northern Ireland go to www.employersforchildcare.org/ or contact our Family Benefits Advice Service on fbas@employersforchildcare.org.
