Across the country, local authorities are working hard to improve outcomes for children in their earliest years. This challenge is made more urgent by the scale of inequality facing families today. Over 4.5 million children are growing up in poverty, and there remains a persistent gap between children growing up in areas of disadvantage and those from more affluent backgrounds. 

In response, the Government's Best Start in Life Strategy, published in July, set a national ambition for 75% of children to achieve a good level of development (GLD) by 2028. Local authorities play a central role in delivering this ambition, particularly through the strategy’s three pillars: Integrated Family Support, High-Quality Early Education and Childcare, and Breaking the Link Between Background and Future Success.

Small steps, big futures

Small steps, big futures is a national campaign led by Bradford Birth to 19, highlighting how 50 Things to Do Before You’re Five supports local authorities to strengthen early years systems through simple, meaningful experiences that families and practitioners can build into everyday life.

Developed in Bradford and now used in 23 localities across the country, and reaching more than 750,000 children, 50 Things offers a shared, place-based approach that brings together early years, health, education, culture and community partners around a common way of supporting children’s social, emotional and physical development.

By providing a universal offer that is accessible, practical and rooted in local communities, 50 Things helps create consistency across early years services while empowering families to support their child’s learning from birth.

A timely opportunity for local authorities

With the launch of the Best Start in Life Match Fund, local authorities now have a timely opportunity to invest in 50 Things. The fund enables areas to combine BSiL funding with matched philanthropic support, helping to extend the reach of the programme and embed it as part of a wider, system-led approach to early years development.

“With new Best Start in Life match funding available, local authorities have a timely opportunity to invest in a proven early years approach.”

The campaign comes at a time when many local areas are making decisions about future investment, delivery models and partnership working. 50 Things offers a proven, flexible approach that can be adapted to local priorities while aligning clearly with national policy ambitions.

Explore the campaign

Our dedicated Small steps, big futures page brings together the resources needed to learn more about 50 Things to Do Before You’re Five and how it can support Best Start in Life priorities locally.