Croydon has set an ambitious target to boost early childhood development, aiming for 78.3% of children to achieve a 'Good Level of Development' (GLD) by the end of their reception year by 2028. This goal represents a significant increase from the current 70.4% and acknowledges Croydon's performance which already exceeds that of its statistical neighbours.
The strategy to achieve this ambitious target will be tailored to local needs, with a particular focus on wards such as Old Coulsdon and Selhurst, which currently exhibit lower GLD outcomes. The current GLD percentages for these wards are approximately 43% and 45% respectively. This will be a comprehensive, whole-system effort, fostering partnerships across health, public health, and children's services, with an emphasis on scaling up innovative and effective practices.
Funding of £6.2 million has been secured from the Department for Education and the Department for Health and Social Care until March 2029 to support this initiative. This funding will be crucial in implementing the tailored strategies and scaling up successful practices across the borough.
This comprehensive approach aims to ensure that all children in Croydon have the best possible start in life, addressing disparities and building on existing strengths to achieve the borough's developmental goals. Further details on the strategy and its implementation can be found in the Public reports pack.
