The 'early years' refers to the period of childhood from conception to 5 years of age.

The early years is a critical period of time for building the foundations for healthy development. If babies and children have the best possible start in life, this has the potential for life-long benefits for their emotional wellbeing and physical health throughout childhood and into adulthood.

The quotes below stress how vital it is that all children in Cumberland are supported to have the best start in life:

  • The early years represents one of the best investments we can make for the long-term health, wellbeing and happiness of our society - Centre for Early Childhood
  • Early childhood experiences literally build brains - Nancy Stewart
  • When you work with a child in the early years, you have the opportunity to help change the whole direction of their lives - Early Years Nursery Manager
  • What happens early in life has an impact later in life and it should be the most exciting time of their lives, full of curiosity, awe, exploration and laughter - Early Years Team Member 
  • Young children are often described as sponges for learning - it is vital therefore that the 'water' around them is anti-racist regardless of the ethnic make-up of their environment. This can range from representation, acknowledging racialised differences (not silencing them), openly discussing racism and being anti-racist ourselves - Anti racist Cumbria
  • Every child is unique and will develop at their own pace, so it's not about treating all children in exactly the same way but treating each child fairly and paying attention to their individual interests and needs - PACEY
  • Communication is at the core of everything we do…strong language and communication skills lay the foundations for personal, social and emotional development, enabling us to regulate our behaviour and understand emotions - The Communication Trust

The Early Years Strategy group for Cumberland is a multi-agency partnership that identifies priorities and actions in order to secure improved outcomes for babies and children throughout the early years.

Early Years Plan on a Page (PDF 261KB)

For further information please contact:

Katie Clarke, Strategic Lead for Early Years

Katie.Clarke@Cumberland.gov.uk