Families in Portsmouth will receive new support from today to help children prepare for school, as Labour rolls out a package of measures from primary school offer day through to the first day in September.
- Families across Portsmouth receive primary school offers today as Labour launches new practical advice on the skills children need for school and where parents can access support
- Local Labour MP writes to council to offer support on boosting development of Portsmouth’s children to get them ‘school-ready’ and urges parents to get behind campaign
- Extended early years language programme and national campaign fronted by MC Grammar launched so parents and teachers can give every child in Portsmouth the best start
The move comes as over a third (37%) of children nationally are starting school without the basic skills they need for the classroom, with teachers and charities finding many children arriving in Reception unable to use the toilet independently, communicate clearly or follow simple instructions.
As part of Labour’s mission to get a record number of children school ready, the guidance published today – on primary school offer day – will provide parents across Portsmouth with a clear idea of the support available to them during one of the most important stages of their children’s lives.
For the first time, new guidance sets out how schools, nurseries, and childminders should work together as one system around families to get children ready for Reception – making clear that Offer Day is the starting gun for children beginning their school education.
It sets three key building blocks for a smooth start: strong relationships with families, close partnership working between schools, nurseries and childminders, and early identification of children’s needs, including SEND. It includes practical examples to follow, like home visits and stay and play sessions, giving families the opportunity to visit their new school, or for teachers to visit children in their early years setting.
The package is backed by continued investment in the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme until 2029, and comes as a new national campaign, fronted by award-winning teacher and rapper MC Grammar, gives parents simple ways to practise key skills at home.
The NELI programme helps children who need extra support with speech and language to catch up during Reception. It has already been shown to deliver strong results, with an evaluation finding that it boosts language skills by an additional four months for children on the programme compared to those that aren’t, or up to seven months for children from more deprived backgrounds.
The national campaign from Best Start in Life, featuring MC Grammar, shows that school readiness is about everyday skills like communication, independence and confidence. It features a new ‘Steps for School’ song to help parents and children identify the key skills they’ll need from getting dressed and using the toilet to listening, speaking and following instructions.
Minister for Early Education Olivia Bailey MP said: “Starting school is a huge milestone – for children and parents. I remember getting my own children ready for their first day, excited and hoping they’d walk through the door feeling confident.
“From the moment families receive their school place, they should feel supported with simple, practical ways to help their child build confidence, independence and the skills they need for the classroom.
“By bringing schools, nurseries, childminders, and families closer together, we can make sure every child gets off to a strong start – arriving at school feeling settled and ready to learn.”
The announcement comes as the MP for Portsmouth North has written to Portsmouth offering their support in boosting the level of development of Portsmouth’s children. Labour’s Plan for Change sets the target of getting tens of thousands more children ‘school ready’ by age 5.
It is backed by local targets set for every area, with councils now required to set out how they will drive progress towards the national goal by 2028. Portsmouth has been set the target of 74.2% and Portsmouth’s MP has reached out to make that a reality.
Amanda Martin MP has urged parents across Portsmouth to get behind the Best Start in Life campaign and use the resources provided to help local children start school ready to learn.
MP for Portsmouth North, Amanda Martin said: “Children growing up in Portsmouth deserve the best start in life – nothing less. But that doesn’t happen by magic, it needs government, parents and nurseries to come together to make it a reality.
“No government has ever made the early years such a priority – from opening new Best Start Family Hubs to making early years education more accessible and affordable for parents.
“Labour is on your side, that’s why we’re backing parents with new services and practical advice to make life easier.”
With family life proving challenging amidst global conflict, this work forms part of a wider push from the Labour government to make life easier for parents and give children the best start.
Labour is bringing together support from pregnancy through to starting school, including through the rollout of Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority, offering parenting advice, health services and help with children’s development, alongside the first ever guidance to help families manage screen time at home.
