The Children’s Centre Operational Manager introduced the report of the Director of Child, Family and Education which provided an update of Early Years partnership work relating to: Early Years Strategy; First 1001 Days Programme; and Link to the Family Hubs initiative. The report detailed the organisational, structural and partnership activity undertaken over the previous 18 months.

Koala North West (KNW) and Foundation Years Trust (FYT) worked with the Council and NHS to collectively apply for funding to create Wirral’s 1001 First Days programme to improve integration between services offered for families of children between 0 – 2 years, providing a seamless offer which families could easily navigate. The bid was successful and representatives of the two organisations were present to help present the report.

The 1001 first days programme was to provide the foundation for the development of Family Hubs in Wirral to ensure access and inclusion, broaden and cement relationships and align and connect services.

The Chair thanked the partners for the work they had done and Members noted that there would be further feedback on progress. and that the work was crucial to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The Chair noted that in the recommendations the correct title of the sector was the Voluntary, Community Faith and Social Enterprise sector (VCFSE) and the recommendation would be amended to reflect this.

Resolved: That

(1)  the progress made in integrated working across Early Childhood Services, Public Health and Wirral’s voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector (VCFSE), including the Early Years Strategy be noted and endorsed; and

(2)  future updates on outcomes of the Early Years Strategy and Family Hubs be provided.