Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide additional Family Hubs over and above the funding already announced.

The government has announced 75 local authorities that are eligible to receive funding for family hubs. These were selected based on levels of disadvantage, targeting the areas with the highest levels of deprivation and disproportionately poor health and educational outcomes. Although we would like to see family hubs across the country, it is crucial that we now focus on delivering well in the local authorities already selected.

The investment in family hubs is significant and will have a wide reach across the country to improve outcomes for thousands of babies, children, and families, helping to deliver this government’s levelling up ambitions. We are not starting from zero, many local authorities already provide excellent early years and family support services. The evidence and learning from this investment will help to improve services across England, where they are most needed.

The department has set up the National Centre for Family Hubs (NCFH), to provide expert advice and guidance to all local authorities, local commissioners, academies, schools and third sector bodies with regards to transforming to family hubs. The NCFH hosts a comprehensive resource library and implementation toolkit to support family hubs providers. This work is supported by disseminating a regular newsletter, a series of learning events, and a community of practice. More information on the NCFH can be found here: https://www.nationalcentreforfamilyhubs.org.uk/.