Family Hubs: Children's Play
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking within the Best Start Family Hub programme to ensure that the new centres enhance local opportunities to access good quality play.
Answered by Josh MacAlister
From April 2026, Best Start Family Hubs will continue to provide universal and targeted services for families from pregnancy through age five and beyond. These include peer support sessions, stay-and-play activities, parent champions, and community outreach, all of which help build strong relationships, promote early bonding, and support development from birth.
Community-based activities such as stay-and-play sessions and parenting groups are a vital part of this offer, helping to reduce isolation, build parental confidence and promote early learning through play and shared experiences.
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