Our Best Start Local Plan 2026-29

Our Gateshead Early Years profile   

Population demographics 

• the population of Gateshead is approximately 202,800 people across an estimated 88,910 households 
• around 6.5% of the population are from an ethnic group other than White British
• approximately 4,620 people (700+ families) identify as part of the Orthodox (Haredi) Jewish community - average household of 6.6 people  
• total 0-19 population is 43,556 with 30,378 children and young people of school-age  
• assessed Early Years Foundation Stage Profile cohort size of 1,272 Reception children in 2024/25 

Births and early childhood population 

• there are approximately 9,902 children aged 0-4 years in Gateshead
• the cohort of 0-4 years is expected to decrease by 10% by the year 2032 
• a total of 1,768 babies were born in Gateshead during 2025
• premature births < 37 weeks gestation recorded at 72.6 per 1,000 
• wards with the highest populations with a 0-5 years age profile are Saltwell (1,007), Lamesley (706), Deckham (695), Lobley Hill & Bensham (667) and Felling (643)

Health reviews and early development 

• 97.4% of new birth visits are completed within 14 days, 96.7% of 6-8-week reviews, 98.8% of 12-month reviews and 97% of 2 - 2.5-year reviews.   
• ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) outcomes at 2 - 2.5 years shows 87% of Gateshead children at or above expected development levels across five areas
• ASQ-3 data shows highest outcomes for Gross Motor (97%), Fine Motor (95.9%), Problem Solving (95%), Personal-Social (94.3%) and Communication (90.6%)
• 80.4% of disadvantaged children (Autumn 2025) accessed 2-year-old funded early education and childcare 
• 66% of Gateshead families use the 2-year entitlement, rising to 102% at 3-4 years - both are above the England averages 

Physical health 

• healthy weight at ages 4-5 years in Gateshead is reported at 74.5%, 0.5% below the England average
• 37.4% of children in Year 6 are overweight or obese, 1.2% above the England average
• 30.5% of children at age 5 years show tooth decay
• 440.6 per 100K hospital admissions for dental decay at age 0-5 years 

Bonding, feeding and early health 

• breastfeeding rate at 6-8 weeks is 48.2% and increasing
• 93.8% of children at age 2 have an MMR vaccination and 88.4% at age 5 years  
• emergency admissions (121.2 per 1K) and injury admissions (101.0 per 10K) for children aged 0-4 years are below national averages

Children with SEND 

• total of 5,758 pupils in Gateshead were identified as having SEND - Social, Emotional and Mental Health is the most common primary need (1,307 pupils)
• 98 children aged 0-4 years have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) - 66 in mainstream settings, 16 in independent early years provision and 16 in specialist placements

Poverty and inequalities  

• Gateshead is ranked 53rd most deprived local authority in England out of 296 local authorities in the overall Index of Multiple Deprivation 2025. Around 32,717 or 19% of Gateshead residents live within the most deprived 10% of LSOAs in England 
• Felling (82%), Deckham (60%) and High Fell (53%) wards are estimated to have the highest proportion of their population in the 10% most deprived wards in England  
• total of 8,349 children are eligible for free schools meals across all state-funded primary and secondary schools 

Early help and safeguarding 

• 126 children aged 0-4 years are receiving Lead Practitioner support from the Early Help Service in February 2026 
• 100 children aged 0-4 years are open to a Child in Need (CIN) Plan - 114 if unborn children are included
• 57 children aged 0-4 years are open to a Child Protection (CP) Plan - 63 if unborn children are included
• 73 children aged 0-4 years are in the care of our Local Authority, including unborn children

Early Years - Systemic challenges 

1. Downward trend in the number of children achieving the GLD at age 5 years - not starting from a growth position 
2. Growing disparity between funded early years education for working families and those requiring extra support - linked to national eligibility 
3. Families and settings would welcome more joined-up information about the support available from Family Hubs, VCS providers and (0-19) health services 
4. Limited and/or untimely information shared on children's needs across the early years system 
5. Accessibility of childcare to meet needs of SEND children 
6. Emerging complexity in speech, language and communication needs - hypotheses around pandemic impact 
7. Waiting times for specific pathways of therapeutic support 
8. Levels of adult literacy and parental confidence in supporting early learning 
9. More bespoke support required for fathers and male carers
10. High numbers of families in specific wards living in poverty - clear impact on wellbeing and family stability

School Readiness - Starting Reception

Our understanding of school readiness is taken from the startingreception.co.uk definition which sets out the personal, social, emotional and physical skills that most children will develop by the time they start school, including growing independence, building relationships and communicating, physical development and healthy routines.

Family Voice - insights from Gateshead parents and carers

Parents and carers in our Family Voice Panel provided the following insights: 

• want clear, trusted information which uses different media, including digital
• informal support networks - family/friends - rank as an important source of advice
• high value placed on good relationships with known professionals at place
• parental confidence, not just competence, is key to supporting children's early learning
• managing a low income is referenced repeatedly as a barrier to accessing resources, travel and activities

What help do you need to prepare your child for school and learning? 

"A pre-school workshop to give info to parents on things they can do to help prepare children for school" 

"I think it's difficult to know what the expectations at school are"

"Some parents may be dyslexic and struggle themselves"

1. 'Get Ready for School' group workshops to support the nursery to Reception transition. 
2. Free or low-cost group sessions for children to develop social and language skills. 
3. Advice on how to support independent toileting and dressing. 

What other types of help would be useful? 

"Give parents an insight into phonics"

"To build my confidence reading"

"A pack for parents about the importance of reading to your child and the positive impact reading has on your child's learning"

"Support with cost-of-living crisis - more and more families are struggling to find money for food, clothing, uniform, sanitary products, toiletries and nappies"

1. Specific strategies on using toys for role-play, flash cards, developing pen/paper skills. 
2. Helping parents to understand phonics. 
3. Free books and resources. 
4. Understanding school admissions - how and when to apply. 
5. Support purchasing school uniform. 

Where would you go for support to help your child get ready for school? 

1. Family Hubs, 20% 
2. Family and friends, 19% 
3. School, 14% 
4. Nursery, 13% 
5. Online, 11% 
6. Health visitor, 7% 
7. Family learning, 7% 
8. Library, 4% 
9. Speech and language therapist, 3% 
10. GP, 2% 

"Early Words Together - it helped my son with different letter sounds"

"Nursery arranged transition visits and support from SENDCO"