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info@bewbushcommunitynursery.co.uk

Best start in life

Best Start in Life in West Sussex

Working Together to Give Every Child the Best Start

At Bewbush Community Nursery C.I.C., we are proud to support the West Sussex Best Start Plan, which aims to ensure every child has the strongest possible start in life from pregnancy through to starting school.

The early years are a crucial time in a child’s development. By working together with families, health professionals, schools and community services, we can help children grow into confident, healthy and resilient learners.

What is the West Sussex Best Start Plan?
The West Sussex Best Start Plan is a county-wide partnership between West Sussex County Council, the NHS, early years providers, schools, Family Hubs and other local organisations. Together, we are committed to improving outcomes for children from birth to five years of age through prevention, early intervention and strong partnerships with families. The plan focuses on supporting children before challenges become bigger concerns and ensuring that every family can access the help they need.

The Three Priorities
The West Sussex Best Start Plan has three main priorities:

Supporting Families
Helping parents and carers feel confident by providing advice, guidance and access to local services through Best Start Family Hubs and other community organisations.

Access to High-Quality Early Education
Ensuring all families can access high-quality childcare and early education that supports children’s learning, development and wellbeing.

High-Quality Early Years Practice
Supporting early years professionals to provide nurturing, inclusive environments where every child can achieve their full potential and be well prepared for school.

What Does This Mean for Families at Our Nursery?
As part of the Best Start approach, we will continue to:

  • Build positive relationships with every child and their family.
  • Support children’s learning through the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
  • Share your child’s progress through Tapestry and regular discussions.
  • Work closely with health visitors, speech and language therapists, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services and other professionals when appropriate.
  • Promote healthy eating, physical activity, oral health and emotional wellbeing.
  • Identify any additional needs early and work with families to provide the right support.
  • Signpost families to local services that may be helpful.

Our role is to work alongside you, recognising that parents and carers are a child’s first and most important educators.

Best Start Family Hubs
West Sussex has a network of Best Start Family Hubs, providing free support for families from pregnancy through to young people aged 19 (or up to 25 for young people with SEND).

Family Hubs offer a wide range of services including:

  • Stay and Play sessions
  • Parenting courses
  • Health visiting services
  • Infant feeding support
  • Speech and language advice
  • SEND support
  • Child development advice
  • Emotional wellbeing support
  • Information about local activities and services
  • Advice on housing, finances and family wellbeing

These services are available to all families, and you do not need to be experiencing difficulties to access support. The aim is to provide help early, build confidence and strengthen family wellbeing. West Sussex has continued to expand these hubs and their outreach services so that more families can access support close to home.

How We Work Together
At Bewbush Community Nursery C.I.C., we are fortunate to be based within the Crawley Bewbush Family Hub, allowing us to work closely with local professionals and make it easier for families to access support when needed.

This means we can:

  • Signpost families to appropriate local services.
  • Work in partnership with Family Hub staff.
  • Help families access additional support quickly when needed.
  • Promote local groups, events and activities.
  • Ensure children receive joined-up support across education, health and community services.

Every Child Matters
Every child develops at their own pace. The Best Start approach is about recognising each child’s individual strengths while ensuring that any additional support is identified early.

By working together, we can help children to:

  • Feel safe and secure.
  • Develop confidence and independence.
  • Build strong communication and language skills.
  • Enjoy learning through play.
  • Develop healthy habits.
  • Be ready for school and future learning.

Working in Partnership
We believe the best outcomes happen when families and professionals work together. We encourage parents and carers to:

  • Share information about their child.
  • Read, play and talk together every day.
  • Celebrate achievements through Tapestry.
  • Attend nursery events and meetings.
  • Ask for advice or support whenever it is needed.

Together, we can ensure every child has the very best start in life.

Information Available on the Best Start in Life Website

The Best Start in Life website is a trusted source of free information, advice and guidance for parents and carers from pregnancy until their child starts school. It provides practical, evidence-based support to help families navigate every stage of their child’s early years.

Parents can find information on:

  • Pregnancy and preparing for birth.
  • Newborn care and infant feeding, including breastfeeding support.
  • Baby and toddler health, including vaccinations, safer sleep and common childhood illnesses.
  • Child development and developmental milestones.
  • Speech, language and communication development.
  • Learning through play and activities to enjoy at home.
  • Preparing children for starting nursery and school.
  • Toilet training.
  • Healthy eating and nutrition.
  • Oral health and caring for children’s teeth.
  • Physical activity and reducing screen time.
  • Children’s emotional wellbeing and behaviour.
  • Sleep advice for babies and young children.
  • Support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
  • Information about funded childcare and early education.
  • Parenting advice and family relationships.
  • Local Best Start Family Hubs and services available in West Sussex.
  • Weekly emails with age-specific tips, activities and guidance tailored to your child’s stage of development.

Families can also use the website to find their nearest Best Start Family Hub, discover local groups and activities, access childcare information, and be signposted to additional support services available across West Sussex.

How We Use These Resources
At Bewbush Community Nursery C.I.C., we regularly signpost families to the Best Start in Life website and local Family Hub services. Whether you are looking for advice on your child’s development, parenting support, health information or local activities, these resources are free, reliable and available to all families.

As we are based within the Crawley Bewbush Family Hub, we are ideally placed to help families access many of these services and can support you in finding the information or professional guidance you need.

You can find out more by visiting the Best Start in Life website and the West Sussex Family Information Service, where you can search for childcare, local activities, parenting courses and support services available in your area.

https://beststartinlife.gov.uk
https://familyinfoservice.westsussex.gov.uk/SynergyWeb/FSD