Sadiq Khan unveils plans for London’s first Early Years Hubs

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has unveiled new plans to help tackle inequality in education and help ensure children from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their full potential.

Through Early Years Hubs, the most disadvantaged families in London will have better access to good quality, affordable early-years education.

Bringing together schools, childminders and nurseries, the Hubs will help ensure more children are ready to thrive at school from the age of five by boosting the take-up of early-years education and childcare support entitlements, and enable more parents to seek work.

These organisations will work together over a three-year period to set up a minimum of three Hubs, supporting quality early-years practice and engaging with families to improve access for the most disadvantaged. They may also provide childcare out of normal working hours and support children with special educational needs and disabilities, as well as promoting careers in early-years education.

City Hall is set to begin an open application process next month to select the lead organisation for each of the Hubs, and will develop a toolkit to share learning across the capital.