Delivering the Best Start in Life strategy: Planning and data for local context

The government’s Early Years strategy for England ‘Giving every child the best start in life’, outlines Local Authority funding to ensure children are ready to start school at age 5. The use of data to understand local needs and what works is essential to deliver targeted investments. In this policy brief we set out guidance for Local Authorities to develop their data use, drawing on best practice. We also give a series of recommendations to Local Authorities and the Department for Education on the steps needed to improve how data is used to inform strategic investment under the government's Best Start Strategy.