Nursery World - Innovation agency seeks local authority partners 'to reimagine' early years services

The Covid-19 pandemic has increased childhood inequality leading to a ‘lost generation of under fives’, innovation agency Nesta warns.

There is concern that inequality has risen during the Covid-19 pandemic

In response to children’s life chances being ‘stunted’ before they start school, Nesta is looking for local partners to help to design, trial, and adapt early years support.

The aim of the joint project is to make a measurable impact in outcomes for disadvantaged children.

Nesta is highlighting that:

Babies and toddlers from poorer backgrounds have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, with less access to books and outdoor space during lockdown than children growing up in wealthier families.
An estimated 900,000 more children have sought Free School Meals this year - a 64 per cent increase on the 1.4m already receiving them.
Uptake of home learning during lockdown showed gaps between disadvantaged children and their more affluent peers.

Local authorities have also raised significant concerns about the impact of the pandemic in widening the attainment gap and the prospects of young children in the area.

Nesta is putting out an open call for applications in the hope of finding a small number of local areas in England, Scotland or Wales who would be interested in working in close collaboration over three- to- five years to reimagine how services and support for children and their families are delivered.

Ravi Gurumurthy, chief executive of Nesta, said, ‘The number of households receiving universal credit has leapt this year and free school meals hit the headlines yet again over half term. Worryingly, this is the tip of the iceberg: indicators sitting above so many factors about a child’s life. Inequality isn’t inevitable but for too many children it dictates their future.

‘Nesta’s vision is for every child to have the fairest possible start in life, so they can thrive and realise their potential. We’re now looking for local partners to help us look beneath the surface and find solutions that will change lives.’

Local authorities across England, Scotland and Wales can express an interest in becoming an ‘innovation partner’ to confront inequality with the aim of giving each child the same chance to thrive.