Better Start Longitudinal Programmes

Baroness Thornton Excerpts

Tuesday 10th February 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Thornton]

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether, and if so when and how, the learning from the results of the Better Start longitudinal programmes will become pregnancy and early years policy and be implemented.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Baroness Merron) (Lab)]

My Lords, we welcome the valuable learning that is emerging from the five Better Start partnerships and we look forward to the national evaluation report in the spring. The programmes provide important insights into early-years support in highly disadvantaged areas. Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies already deliver a place-based prevention focus model. We will consider Best Start evidence, alongside other evaluations, as we develop policy to deliver a new neighbourhood health service and raise the healthiest generation of children ever.

[Baroness Thornton (Lab)]

I thank the Minister for that and declare an interest: my sister, Gill Thornton, is the director of Better Start Bradford, which is part of the £250 million programme funded by the National Lottery, with local funding too, for the last 10 years. The model, which places children and family at the heart of service design, focuses on the first 1,001 days, which is critical because of the developmental window from conception to a child’s second birthday. I would like to hear how the Government will integrate this into their Best Start for Life programme.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

The work in Bradford is to be commended. I can assure my noble friend that, through Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies, local authorities will be expected to do exactly what the noble Baroness says is happening in Bradford: that is, to establish very inclusive and diverse routes for parent and carer participation. We want families to shape how services are set out and I absolutely agree that the first 1,001 days of a child’s life is a crucial and critical developmental window.