Policy Spotlight: A Tipping Point for Early Help Services

Policy Spotlight: A Tipping Point for Early Help Services

Recent reports paint a striking picture of the challenges facing children and young people across the UK - especially those growing up in poverty.

A new analysis by Pro Bono Economics has revealed that local authority spending on early intervention services has fallen by over £2bn since 2010, with per-child funding dropping from £379 to £209. The most deprived areas have been hit hardest, seeing spending more than halved - just as demand for support continues to rise.

The latest National Education Union survey highlights the impact on the ground:

• 87% of teachers report children showing signs of fatigue at school due to the consequences of poverty. 
• 73% of teachers in the most deprived schools have witnessed students showing signs of hunger. 
• Over half of teachers and school support staff  have observed physical underdevelopment in students. 

At the same time, a Sutton Trust report warns that Pupil Premium funding is increasingly being diverted to cover basic school costs, rather than targeted support for disadvantaged learners. The Sutton Trust champions social mobility through programmes, research and policy influence. 

AllChild’s Response

AllChild is responding through both advocacy and action:

• We are actively informing national policy, with a DfE Deputy Director seconded to our team and strong working relationships across government departments.
• We've recently hosted key policymakers at events including the Secretary of State Lisa Nandy and Mayor Andy Burnham at our Wigan Launch event, and Josh MacAlister at our event at the Houses of Parliament. 
• We’ve signed the Children at the Table campaign to embed children’s rights in law.
• We joined the Fair Education Alliance's open letter to the Chancellor, alongside 123 organisations, advocating for investment in young people from low-income backgrounds.

We’ve also submitted evidence to inquiries on children’s social care, SEND, and youth activity access, and our work has been referenced by leading organisations including IPPR, The Sutton Trust, and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.

Looking Ahead

We are working to become a local charity with a national blueprint for change - demonstrating what works and influencing systemic reform. We’re continuing to engage with the government on the Opportunities Mission and National Youth Strategy to ensure that the voices and needs of children are at the heart of public policy. 

It's our ambition to build a movement for change because it's only by working together that we can change the way we invest in children.