National policy direction

It is also key that our focus locally responds to the national policy direction, including:

• Greater access to early education and childcare, particularly for working families
• Providing a universal offer to all families that supports parents and carers to nurture the health and development of their babies and children from conception, throughout the early years, and into the start of adulthood through a Family Hubs approach
• Earlier intervention and support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to enable them to access and thrive in mainstream provision where possible and improving transitions to adulthood by strengthening Post 16 advice, guidance and provision
• Putting lifelong loving relationships at the heart of the care system by recognising that families are the experts in their own lives and the system needs to collaborate and co-produce plans in true partnership with parents and carers, whilst providing intensive help to families in crisis
• Safer, more equitable and more personalised maternity and neonatal care for women and babies
• Prevent crime before it occurs and build safety and security by working closely with communities, schools and other partners, build trust in neighbourhoods and understand local needs, with a diverse and skilled police workforce