Home-Start London launches new project ensuring more children start school ready to learn

Home-Start London is delighted to announce the launch of “Big Hopes Big Future”, a new project providing tailored school readiness support to children in Camden, Islington, Southwark, and Lewisham. The project is funded by The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington for which the Mercers’ Company is Corporate Trustee, as part of the Mercers’ Company’s Early Years Special Initiative.

Over the next four years, 400 children aged 2-5 years that are more likely to fall behind their peers will be supported to build their numeracy, literacy and language skills while also promoting their social and emotional development. Big Hopes Big Future is an evidence-based approach developed by Home-Start that recognises the importance of a supportive home learning environment and parental engagement in early learning.

Through weekly home visits and group work, Home-Start staff and specially trained volunteers will engage parents and children in a range of play-based activities. The project is a partnership with Home-Start Southwark and Home-Start Camden and Islington, integrating learning from other successful initiatives. Good practice will be shared with the wider Home-Start network, ensuring even more families can benefit.

Charlotte Nugent, Grants Programme Manager at Mercers’ Company said: “The Mercers’ Company as trustee of The Charity of Sir Richard Whittington is delighted to support Home-Start London. Through the extensive use of trained volunteers, Home-Start makes a significant and valued contribution to the lives of children in their early years, their parents/carers and wider families. We look forward to following the journey of this programme as it develops within Southwark and Camden, and Lewisham and Islington thereafter.”

Jessica Greenhalf, Director at Home-Start London said: “Tackling inequalities in access to early years and family support is key to Home-Start’s mission. We are delighted to be launching this project as part of the Mercers’ Company’s Early Years Special Initiative, helping to ensure that more children in London develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive at school and beyond.”