A Universal Approach

A universal approach to improving life chances for Under 5s 

The importance of under-5s engagement 

A child’s experience during the early years (0-5 years) is critical to their physical, cognitive and social development. This development all contributes to a child being ‘school ready’. This is recognised in the Wellbeing Strategy for Calderdale 2018 - 2024 and in the Council’s Vision 2024, as a key theme under Enterprising and Talented. 

There is increasing recognition and evidence that speech, language and communication are vital for supporting children to be school ready, and thus sets the foundation for educational / academic achievement. Early language impacts on many areas of child development. It contributes to a child’s ability to manage emotions and communicate feelings, to establish and maintain relationships and develop key childhood competencies in understanding objects, numbers, people and language. 

There are approximately 12,142 under 5s living in Calderdale (Child Health, January, 2020). Within that cohort, parents have the biggest influence on their child’s early learning.  

Calderdale Council took a population based, universal approach to supporting children to be school ready with the introduction of the ’50 things to do before you’re five’ project. 

Launching 50 Things: A Whole-Community Approach 

The Calderdale ‘50 to do before you’re five’ app, website and resources were launched on the 7th August 2019 to coincide with National Play Day. The event was held at the Eureka! Children’s Museum in Halifax and was attended by around 70 people representing early years’ settings, schools, Children’s Centres, council directorates, local organisations and families.  

The launch event happened after the project was pitched to various groups including the Council’s Executive Leadership Team, the Children and Young People’s Directorate Management Team and the Calderdale Leaders Meeting to the hospital trust, the Leader of the Council and representatives from the fire service, the police and local third sector organisations. 

From the start, multi-agency involvement and support was seen as vital to the project’s success,.   A local stakeholder group was formed with representatives from Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) Early Years settings, Health Visiting, Libraries, Museums, Children’s Centres and Children and Young People’s Services.  Reflecting this multi-agency involvement, the ‘Local Links’ information in the app includes public health key messages including, but not limited to, healthy eating, oral health, physical activity, sun safety and emotional wellbeing. 

Coordinating promotion for maximum impact 

To aid promotion of the 50 Things project, A2 and A3 Posters were distributed to all PVI early years settings, schools, libraries, GP Practices, Children’s Centres and the maternity, antenatal/postnatal and paediatrics wards at the local hospital. Bookmarks were also distributed by schools in transition packs, through Children’s Centres and available from local libraries.  

Health visitors, early years’ settings, schools, social care teams, family support workers and foster carers were provided with the A6 ring binder resource. Health Visitors continue to distribute these ring binders to vulnerable families and those families without digital access. 

Calderdale’s Vision 2024 Babies project was launched alongside the 50 things project, seeking to recruit at least 24 families to follow their journey in preparing their child to be school ready in Calderdale using the 50 things app from 2019 to September 2024. 

Social media has been utilised for the promotion of ‘50 things’ particularly during the COVID lockdown. Weekly posts were scheduled for 12 months to go on the Council’s media platforms including Twitter and Facebook. A You Tube video was created to screen at the launch event...

Written by

Rachel Smith 
Health Improvement Specialist | Public Health Team 
Calderdale Council 

Date: 9th July 2020