From Early Years to SEND: Croydon Labour’s Drive to Create a Fairer Future for Young People

Early Years Support

Croydon Labour has prioritised the earliest years of a child’s life with its ambitious Best Start programme. This scheme offers families support from pregnancy through to age five; ensuring children are given developmental checks, speech and language help, and access to health professionals. Parents are supported to spot challenges early and provided with resources to build strong foundations at home. By investing in prevention, Labour has created a service that reduces future inequalities and strengthens family life.

Family Help and Community Resilience

Alongside Best Start, Labour has expanded Early Help, which brings together professionals from education, housing, health and social care. Families facing pressures such as debt, unstable housing or family stress can access timely support before problems escalate. The service promotes resilience by empowering parents while easing pressure on schools and emergency services. Labour councillors have described Early Help as both compassionate and cost-effective, ensuring communities are stronger and safer.

Closing the Attainment Gap

Education has been a major focus for Croydon Labour, with targeted use of the Pupil Premium to narrow gaps in achievement. In 2023–24, this meant £1,455 for each primary pupil, £1,035 for each secondary pupil, and £2,530 for looked-after children. Schools across the borough have used this funding to provide tutoring, mentoring and pastoral care. Labour’s emphasis has been clear: no child should be held back because of their background.

Supporting Care Leavers

Young people in care receive tailored support through the borough’s Post-16 Team, another Labour-backed initiative. Care-experienced teenagers are given personal tutors, careers guidance and help with CVs and college applications. Financial bursaries of up to £1,200 ensure students can afford essentials such as travel and study materials. These measures help care leavers transition into education or work with greater stability and confidence.

Stronger SEND Provision

SEND services in Croydon have been reshaped under Labour’s leadership, with inspectors describing the borough’s strategy as “coherent and ambitious.” Inclusive teaching has expanded across schools, supported by specialist health teams and early years programmes like portage. Families have seen improvements in attendance, reduced exclusions, and better access to therapies and support. Labour’s investment has ensured that SEND provision is both proactive and responsive to children’s needs.

Inclusive Schools for All

The borough’s Virtual School has been widened to include children with a social worker as well as those in care. Teachers have received training in trauma-informed practice and emotionally based school avoidance, creating safer environments for vulnerable pupils. A new tool, Reach2Teach AfIT, is helping schools respond compassionately to behaviour challenges while avoiding exclusion. These initiatives reflect Labour’s belief that every child deserves understanding, support and a chance to succeed.

Accessible Services for Families

Croydon Labour has also worked to make SEND services easier for parents to navigate. The borough’s Local Offer brings together information on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), early years support, and community services in one place. Alongside this, the SENDIASS service provides free, impartial advice and advocacy, giving families’ confidence in securing the right support. These improvements have been welcomed by parents who now feel more included in decision-making.

Protecting Children’s Services

Nationally, councils have faced severe financial challenges, but Croydon Labour has kept children’s services a priority. Even after the council’s period of financial oversight, Labour leaders fought to safeguard investment in early intervention, education and SEND provision. This commitment has ensured programmes like Best Start, Early Help and the Virtual School continue to expand. Protecting these services has been central to Labour’s pledge to put children and families first.

Building a Fairer Future

Croydon Labour’s approach has been praised as an example of progressive, locally led reform. From reduced exclusions to improved early years provision, the borough has seen tangible results that are improving lives. By focusing on prevention, inclusion and opportunity, Labour has shown that local government can make a real difference to families. As one councilor Rowenna Davis put it: “When we invest in young people, we invest in Croydon’s future.”

--

Author: Md Sajib Miah, Special Correspondent on Education & SEND