Best Start Family Hubs

Lord Weir of Ballyholme Excerpts

Wednesday 10th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I am delighted to hear the noble Lord reference Ann and the brilliant work that has been done for many years. The whole principle of Sure Start was the universal approach, bringing together all sorts of people and not focusing on just one sector. Everyone needs support at different stages in their lives and everyone has something to offer. It is the interchange and support that you get through this type of vision that makes a huge difference to people’s lives.

[Lord Weir of Ballyholme (DUP)]

My Lords, the Best Start Family Hubs offer an opportunity for positive progress. However, if we are to provide the most assistance to families, particularly those with SEND children, it will require an integrated and holistic approach from the Government. Can the Minister outline how family hubs will integrate with the Government’s proposed reforms to SEND and their response to the Milburn report, so that we have an integrated, joined-up approach to support for families?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I probably do not have enough time in my short answer to go into all the initiatives, but I assure noble Lords that every Best Start Family Hub will have a Best Start inclusion practitioner. An enormous amount of resource is going into making sure that the training is there and the links can be made. The fundamental point that the noble Lord makes, which we absolutely endorse, is that there need to be strong local linkages, bringing together all the different services that work with young people and their families, to make sure we get the very best provision at the earliest possible opportunity to improve their outcomes.