How to use this playbook
About the playbook
This playbook is designed to be used by those developing Best Start in Life local plans. The playbook will help you make strategic, evidence-informed choices in the short timeframe available.
We have tried to make this playbook simple and easy to use. We understand that the reality of your decision-making is complicated and our aim is to help you make sure you have the fundamentals covered.
We also know local authorities are not starting from scratch. If you’ve already begun drafting your plan, you might use this playbook as a check list to support you to identify gaps.
The playbook will guide you through three sections of a plan:
- Context and diagnosis
- Strategic prioritisation (coming soon)
- Monitoring and evaluation (coming soon)
The playbook is designed to be used in parallel with a strategy workbook that Nesta has developed. You may choose to complete this workbook as you progress through the playbook, to summarise your work and identify your key priorities. It is intended to be used flexibly rather than prescriptively.
How this relates to DfE’s expectations for local plans
The DfE has said that, at a minimum, plans should:
- Set a bold vision for improving child development and health outcomes with local delivery partners across all sectors.
- Identify the local needs of babies, children and families, and set out plans to address gaps in provision.
- Describe how delivery will be carried out in partnership, tracked and tailored to continually drive progress.
- Scale innovative practice.
The ‘Context and diagnosis’ section of the Nesta playbook will address identifying local needs and gaps in provision.
The ‘Strategic prioritisation’ section will address setting a bold vision, setting out plans to address gaps, and planning delivery in partnership.
The ‘Monitoring and evaluation’ section will address tracking plans and scaling innovative practice.
The Best Start in Life target
The government has stated their mission is to break the link between a child’s background and their future success by setting every child up for the best start in life. As part of their strategy, they have set an ambitious target of 75% of 5 year-olds reaching a good level of development in the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile by 2028.
Whilst local Best Start in Life strategic plans will need to focus on this specific target, local authorities may consider longer-term system transformation that will benefit all babies, children, young people and their families. Our playbook, alongside the other resources we are offering, aims to help local authorities consider their immediate GLD targets alongside wider population needs.
Improving this playbook
This playbook will continue to evolve, and we will update it based on feedback that we receive. If you would like to be notified when the strategic priorities and monitoring and evaluation sections are published, or if you have any feedback, please email bsil-support@nesta.org.uk.
Acknowledgements
We are very grateful to Steph Waddell and Ben Lewing (Making Evidence Work) for their expert advice and contributions to this playbook. We are also grateful to the Common Outcomes for Children and Young People Collaborative for their feedback on these resources.