Early Support
The Early Support Programme is the central government mechanism for achieving better co-ordinated, family-focused services for young disabled children and their families across England.
It is developing at a time of significant change, as part of the restructuring of children’s services in response to the Government green paper, Every Child Matters(ECM), and alongside new integrated assessment, information and inspection frameworks for children’s services.
Early Support builds on existing good practice. It facilitates the achievement of objectives set by broader initiatives to integrate services, in partnership with families who use services and the many agencies that provide services for young children.
The programme has been developed specifically for children under the age of three. However, in announcing its intention to roll out the programme across the country, the DfES has indicated that the principles of Early Support are applicable to all children under five.
Learn more about Early Support training and the Alliance's involvement.