LGA publishes report highlighting rising needs among children aged under five
The Local Government Association (LGA) has published an independent report, prepared by Isos Partnership, which examines the rising needs of children under five and explores how councils and early years providers are responding to these challenges. The report finds that councils and providers are consistently seeing an increase in both the volume and complexity of needs, particularly communication and interaction difficulties, with more children presenting with very limited or no language and social communication skills. It cites poverty, family stress, neurodivergence and pandemic lockdowns as contributing factors, noting that providers are adapting to support these children but often face funding and capacity pressures. Practitioners and councils call for greater funding, a national workforce strategy and curriculum reforms to improve early years inclusion. The LGA urges the government to address these challenges through special educational needs and disability (SEND) system reforms and the Best Start in Life agenda.