Better Start\/NSPCC<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About Better Start
Better Start is a 12-year National Lottery Community funded programme, giving children in Blackpool, aged 0 \u2013 4 a better start in life, by improving speech and language, diet and nutrition and social and emotional development.
Research Aims
The Ready Steady School (RSS) initiative takes a joined-up approach to tackle school readiness inequities. Applying improvement science (Bartman et al., 2018), RSS focuses on collaboration and a shared commitment to supporting children’s development and maximising school readiness opportunities.
Relationship to Previous Research
Kindred Squared (2023) research highlights disparities in school readiness, with 35% of teachers reporting children were not ready for school, while 91% of parents believed their child was ready. The initiative, inspired by UNICEF\u2019s framework and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, emphasises the crucial roles of parents, educators, environments, and the wider community in supporting children’s development.
Methodology and Ethical Considerations
Using qualitative and quantitative methods, research, conducted with 112 families and a selection of settings and schools, tested the effectiveness of co-developed school readiness priorities, resources and collaborative practice. Consent covered anonymity and withdrawal rights without impeding access to resources and sessions. Ethical approval was granted by the NSPCC.\u00a0
Main Findings or Discussion
Research finds co-designed school readiness priorities and resources acceptable and useful for practitioners and parents, increasing parental engagement and understanding of child development. Findings highlight the effectiveness of the whole system approach and inform further work towards shared school readiness ambition in establishing impact outcomes for children.
Implications for Practice and Policy
Learning demonstrates the impact of collaborative efforts to tackle school readiness inequalities, and working alongside children, parents, and communities to improve school readiness outcomes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n