Funding announced to support child development in Cambridgeshire
£200,000 has been awarded to Cambridgeshire County Council.
Cambridgeshire has received government funding aimed at improving the development of children in the county as part of the national ‘Best Start in Life’ scheme.
The scheme, part of the government’s ‘Plan for Change’ pledge, seeks to give children the best start in life by the end of the current Parliament.
An initial development grant of approximately £200,000 has been awarded to Cambridgeshire County Council.
A main grant, the value of which has not yet been disclosed, is expected in April 2026. The funding covers a three-year period with a target that, by 2028, 75.5% of reception-aged children will be assessed as having a good level of development and ready to begin school.
Cambridgeshire County Council’s Early Years, Childcare and School Readiness Service will oversee delivery of the project in collaboration with its targeted support and public health teams, taking a joined-up approach to helping children and families.
Cllr Edna Murphy, Chair of the Children and Young People’s Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, highlighted the importance of the funding, saying:
“I am extremely pleased that we have been awarded this grant, which will enable us to provide better support for families across Cambridgeshire.
“This additional funding will provide opportunities to help children to thrive by focusing support to children in their early years where we know we can make the biggest difference.
“The money will be used to create a new Family Hub at one of our existing Child and Family Centres and enhance our Home Learning scheme - I know these resources will make a big difference to families across Cambridgeshire.”
Expected outputs include a new Family Hub at an existing Child and Family Centre and enhancements to the Home Learning scheme, both of which aim to support families across the area.