Families and children across the Isle of Wight will be able to access early years support such as pregnancy support, infant feeding advice, parenting classes and other support to give their child the best start in life, following a £126million Government funding boost.
The Isle of Wight Council is expected to receive at least £956,600 as part of the wider investment increase.
Children’s early years are crucial to their development, health and life chances. Antenatal classes, health visitors, parenting support, baby and toddler groups and access to affordable, high-quality early education and childcare – all are vital to guiding parents and supporting child development. Yet over 80% of parents have said they struggled to access services.
As part of Labour’s ‘Plan for Change’, the Government is committed to strengthening and joining up family services to improve support through pregnancy and early childhood and improve long-term outcomes for children – including through this latest investment in Family Hubs and the Start for Life programme.
Richard Quigley MP, for Isle of Wight West, has said:
“I am absolutely delighted that families and children across Isle of Wight West and the Island will be able to access early years support through this funding boost from the Government.
“Families in Isle of Wight West elected a Labour government to give every child the best possible start in life, and that is what we’re delivering.
“This will make such a huge difference for so many families in our community and I know that the impact will be felt for years to come.”
Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, says:
“This crucial investment provides a strong foundation to deliver our commitment to raise the healthiest generation of children ever, by giving parents the support they need to ensure their baby has the best start in life.
“The first two years of a child’s life lay the building blocks for their physical and emotional wellbeing into adulthood. That’s why we are investing in early years, as part of our Plan for Change, to improve access to services in deprived areas to ensure no-one is left behind.”
Great news, every little helps, all children should
receive an equal start in life, sadly this didn’thappen
years ago.
Shame the Labour Government doesn’t care about
Later years support too!
Cutting winter fuel allowance was cruel.