Number of children under five: 8,625 (data from 2021 census)

Index of Multiple Deprivation: out of 317 local authorities (LAs) in England, Bracknell Forest was ranked 284th (average rank) and 286th (average score) (based on English indices of deprivation 2019, where rank first = most deprived).

Ethnic diversity: in 2021, according to Census 2021, 86.1% of people in Bracknell Forest identified their ethnic group within the "White" category, 7.1% within the "Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh" category, and 3.1% within the "Mixed or Multiple" category. 

Proportion of children eligible for free school meals (FSM) reaching a good level of development (GLD) measured by the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile: in 2022-23, Bracknell Forest had 50% of children on FSM reaching a GLD, which was among the highest quintile (20%) in all LAs in Cluster 2 based on Nesta’s previous work (on average,  46.1% children eligible for FSM reached a GLD in this cluster). LAs in Cluster 2 were characterised by low deprivation and a higher than average life expectancy.

In this case study, we have highlighted some key elements of practice that staff in Bracknell Forest reported as contributing to good early-years outcomes. These include providing targeted support for children with special needs, taking a collaborative approach to support infant and perinatal mental health, and providing on-site support to early-years settings.

It is based on an interview in January 2023 with Bracknell Forest Council's Quality Improvement Manager for Early Years; Early Years Engagement Officer; and Head of Early Years, as well as an online survey completed by representatives from Bracknell Forest Council before the interview.

We have selected this case study because Bracknell Forest had higher percentages of children eligible for FSM reaching a GLD compared to other LAs in the same cluster identified by Nesta’s previous work (please see figures above).

A parenting programme, known as Time out for Parents, was highlighted by the interviewees as an example of Bracknell Forest's commitment to supporting parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities aged 0 to 5. Designed to cater to the unique challenges faced by families with children having special needs, this programme allowed the LA to provide tailored and targeted support to the families. 

Another programme, called Sleep Scotland, was an evidence-based programme provided to parents to address specific needs within the community. With staff trained through Sleep Scotland, the Sleep Clinic within the Children’s Specialist Support Team (CSST) service in Bracknell Forest provided support and advice for children and young people with disabilities who were struggling to sleep well and families who were suffering from long-term sleep deprivation as a result of their child’s difficulties sleeping.

Other parenting programmes, such as Elklan, Incredible Years and PEEP (Learn Together Programme), were also offered to families with children aged between 0 and five in Bracknell Forest. Working with a local community of trained volunteers, Home-Start Bracknell Forest provided a community support network for parents with young children and those dealing with issues such as isolation and sickness.

The interviewees highlighted a collaborative approach that Bracknell Forest took in supporting infant and perinatal mental health. Specialised services were primarily facilitated through health visitors and often managed by Berkshire Health Foundation Trust. Non-specialist support initiatives, such as Mums in Mind run by Home-Start, and the Emotional First Aid course, also offered support for parental wellbeing. As one interviewee described Mums in Mind:

The Adverse Childhood Experiences Recovery Toolkit (ACES) programme was designed to help parents better understand the impact of adverse childhood experiences on them and their children and support them to explore ways to develop positive coping strategies for day-to-day living.

When discussing their work on improving the quality of early childhood education, the interviewees highlighted they had a dedicated Quality Improvement Team, whose role encompasses providing support and advice to early-years providers, as well as running programmes such as the Healthy Foods and Activities Programme (HAP). Bracknell Forest also had an Early Years Inclusion Team operating through its Child Development Centre. Taking a multifaceted approach, the team provided assessments, drop-ins and tailored support for children with additional needs.

Having officers who actively visited early-years settings and provided on-site support and guidance was reported as an important strategy for upholding and improving the quality of provision in Bracknell Forest. As one interviewee explained: “as a local authority, we're still very lucky to have employed officers that can go into the settings and support and advise them.” The presence of a universal offer for all settings, coupled with targeted support for those needing improvement, was highlighted by the interviewees as important for sustaining quality.

Providing training to early years settings was also noted by the interviewees as an area to which Bracknell Forest was committed. Having historically engaged with voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations such as Involve and the Preschool Learning Alliance, the council was exploring delivering training using the VCS sector to improve the quality of early childhood education.