Ready for School: Outcomes and Impact Overview The Ready for School (RFS) programme is a relationship-based early intervention designed to support children and families as they transition into Reception. The programme is delivered to a cohort of children living in a community ranked in the top 20% most deprived nationally according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), meaning that all participating children experience socioeconomic disadvantage. Led by an experienced early years teacher, the programme combines small group work, home-based and school-based support, and community activities to strengthen communication, social skills, and independence in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage and help for children to develop the skills and confidence needed for a successful start at school. Alongside this, the programme provides wider family support, working with parents on a range of practical and emotional issues that may affect children’s development. This includes helping families to build routines, access support, and create positive home learning environments. By strengthening parental confidence and engagement, the programme supports families to embed learning into everyday life. Context and Data Considerations Outcomes from 2019 to 2021 reflect a period of significant disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, access to early education, childcare, and support services was limited, and opportunities for in-person delivery were reduced. As a result, data from this period is presented for completeness but is not directly comparable to later cohorts. The analysis therefore focuses on outcomes from 2021 onwards, when programme delivery stabilised and families experienced more consistent support. Outcomes and Progress Over Time The Good Level of Development (GLD) rate across the programme shows a clear trajectory of improvement. From 2019 to 2021, outcomes were significantly below national expectations, with GLD rates of 40% and 30% respectively. From 2021 onwards, there is a marked and sustained improvement, with outcomes ranging between 75% and 100%. This upward trend demonstrates both programme maturity and increasing effectiveness over time, particularly given the high level of disadvantage within the cohort. Benchmarking and Comparative Performance The programme’s post-pandemic performance compares favourably with local and national benchmarks. GLD Benchmark Comparison (2021–2025) The most recent national data shows that approximately 68% of children in England achieve a Good Level of Development. Against this benchmark, the Ready for School programme achieves an average of 79%, placing it above national performance and broadly in line with or exceeding both London and local authority averages. This comparison is particularly significant given that all participating children are drawn from communities experiencing high levels of deprivation. While national and regional benchmarks include children from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, the Ready for School cohort represents a consistently disadvantaged group. Outcomes at this level therefore indicate strong programme impact and suggest that children are being supported to reach levels of development comparable with, or exceeding, their peers. Current Cohort and Emerging Outcomes The most recent data, based on teacher assessment, indicates that outcomes remain strong. In the current class cohort, 62% of children are predicted to achieve GLD, while children participating in the Ready for School programme are predicted to achieve 71% GLD. This difference suggests that children engaged in the programme are continuing to outperform their peers, providing evidence of ongoing added value. The previous cohort achieved 69% GLD, which aligns with the sustained improvement seen in recent years. Outcomes Across Groups Analysis by key groups highlights important patterns in programme impact. Children eligible for Pupil Premium achieve slightly higher GLD rates (61%) than those not eligible (54%), indicating that the programme is effectively supporting children experiencing economic disadvantage. Children with English as an Additional Language achieve particularly strong outcomes (69%), outperforming non-EAL peers. This suggests that the programme has a positive effect on communication and language development, likely linked to its emphasis on home learning and parental engagement. Outcomes for children with SEND are significantly lower, reflecting the higher level of need within this group. This is consistent with national trends and highlights an area for further development, particularly in terms of tailored support and alternative measures of progress. Interpreting Impact The strength of outcomes since 2021 is particularly significant when considered in context. All participating children live in an area of high deprivation, and many experience overlapping barriers that are known to affect early development. Despite this, the programme now consistently achieves outcomes that meet or exceed national expectations. This suggests that the approach is successfully addressing barriers to school readiness, particularly through its focus on parental confidence, relationship-based practice, and support for learning in the home environment. The higher outcomes for children within the programme, compared to the wider cohort, further reinforce the conclusion that the intervention is making a measurable difference. Conclusion The Ready for School programme demonstrates a clear pattern of improvement in outcomes over time, with particularly strong performance in the post-pandemic period. Results show that children supported through the programme achieve levels of school readiness that compare favourably with local and national benchmarks, despite living in significantly disadvantaged circumstances. This evidence indicates that the programme is both effective and increasingly impactful, with strong indications of added value for participating children. Continued development, particularly in relation to SEND outcomes, will further strengthen the evidence base and support ongoing improvement. Ready for School has also been recognised within independent research exploring effective early years practice, where it is included as an example of delivery contributing to strong outcomes within the local system (www.funding-futures.org/home).

Breaking Barriers Breaking Barriers: Bringing Families Together, Building Confidence and Connection Breaking Barriers is a parent-led, community-based approach developed in 2018 to support connection, confidence and belonging for children and their families. It was created in response to evidence that families experiencing disadvantage often face multiple barriers to accessing support, including isolation, low confidence and wider inequalities. The model focuses on creating safe, welcoming and non-judgemental spaces where families can build relationships, access support and gradually connect with their community. It is grounded in the understanding that many families, particularly those with children with SEND, refugee and migrant families, young or single parents, and fathers, may feel excluded from traditional services without more intentional and inclusive engagement. A key strength of the approach is its gradual, relationship-based design. Families are first supported through small, tailored sessions that build trust and confidence in a relaxed, play-based environment. Their feedback is central to shaping how services develop, with a strong emphasis on co-production and responsiveness to lived experience. As confidence grows, families are supported to access wider provision, often with practical help such as accompanied visits or financial support where needed. Over time, parents are encouraged to build networks, contribute to activities and play an active role in their community. Delivery at Grow Wild, a natural play space, is a distinctive element of the model. Outdoor, play-based provision encourages parent–child interaction, builds confidence and helps reduce the stigma sometimes associated with more formal services. It also creates opportunities for connection across different communities. Consultation with over 200 parents highlighted the importance of inclusive, flexible and accessible services. Families valued welcoming environments, opportunities for outdoor play and practical support such as transport, appropriate timings and culturally relevant provision. Evidence from practice shows strong outcomes. Parents report increased confidence, new friendships and stronger engagement with services, while children benefit from improved wellbeing, learning and enjoyment. The model has also been effective in engaging underrepresented groups when delivery is tailored and culturally responsive. At its core, Breaking Barriers works by reducing practical and emotional barriers, building relationships and supporting confidence. This leads to stronger social connections, greater engagement and improved outcomes for families, alongside reduced isolation and increased community integration. Overall, the project demonstrates that inclusive, relationship-based and community-led approaches can make a meaningful difference. By combining targeted outreach, co-production and play-based provision, it offers a flexible model that can be adapted to improve access, strengthen relationships and reduce inequalities across early years services. Acknowledgement This project was developed under the leadership of Max Jervis Read, Chair and Trustee of The Lloyd Park Children’s Charity. His commitment to social justice and belief in inclusive, community-led approaches were instrumental in shaping Breaking Barriers and its focus on reaching families who are often excluded from support.