Starting strong

Starting strong for early years children in Kent is a guidance document designed to support all early years providers in developing their Ordinarily Available Provision (OAP).

The starting strong guidance refers to the range of experiences, opportunities and strategies ordinarily offered as part of high-quality teaching for all young children. It sets out clear expectations that aim to ensure inclusive provision across the early years sector, which is of a consistently high standard. Our goal for all babies and young children in Kent is to give them the best start in life by supporting them with highly effective, inclusive early years provision to:

• Ensure learning experiences nurture children’s holistic development.
• Build a strong foundation for later learning and for life.
• Prepare children for their future educational journey.

This document describes a way of working that will give every child the best chance to succeed. It will support early years practitioners to understand what helps each individual child and to identify any additional needs as soon as possible.

This guidance is underpinned by key legislation, including:

• The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
• The SEND Code of Practice.

It is also shaped by Kent’s SEND Strategy and Countywide Approach to Inclusive Education