The council and its partners have launched a survey today seeking the views of parents, carers and others with an interest in children’s services to inform a new Croydon partnership early years strategy that will be published later this year.
The strategy will detail the early years’ partners, stakeholders, parents, carers and families vision for how young children in Croydon can be safe, healthy and happy and for them to aspire to be the best they can be.
The early years’ survey can be completed here and closes on Sunday 6 March 2022. Paper copies of the survey are available by emailing Croydonbeststart@croydon.gov.uk or calling 020 8726 6000.
The council wants to find out what is important to parents and carers, and anyone working with children up to the age of five, and what would help to improve the experience and outcomes for their children.
Croydon has the largest population of children and young people in London. The early years of a child’s life are the foundations on which this vision is built. Early years includes from pregnancy to the end of the reception year in primary school.
A vast number of services and information already exists in Croydon to support children and their families. This includes health and wellbeing care, rhyme-time and story-time at libraries, childcare and pre-school education. Croydon Best Start offers help and support on these services and more.
The information and data collated from the survey will help to develop the strategy, tackle inequality and ensure that all local services are meeting the diverse needs of the people in Croydon.
“We are encouraging all parents, carers and early years’ professionals to complete this important survey. The survey is open to everyone and all feedback is essential to help shape the strategy. We constantly review our work to ensure that the borough is providing accessible and joined-up services that offer support at the right time and in the right place. We look forward to receiving your views.”
Councillor Alisa Flemming, cabinet member for children, young people and learning
If anyone completing the survey would like either to be kept informed of progress or be part of an ongoing early years parent forum, or both, please email Croydon Best Start.
