Council rolls out extra support across 10 Family Centres
Milton Keynes City Council is increasing the range of services available to expectant parents and families with children aged under five by expanding provision at its network of 10 Family Centres. The move forms part of the Government’s Best Start in Life programme and aims to bring health, early education and specialist support closer to home.
The council said a new team of Best Start in Life Practitioners will work across all centres to offer advice on child development and school readiness, and to help families access targeted support including Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), speech and language therapy, and health services. Council leaders also point to a recent increase in midwifery availability at Family Centres: the number of sessions has doubled over the past four years, and further appointments and postnatal drop‑in clinics are being introduced this month.
"We want every child in Milton Keynes to have the best possible start in life. By expanding the services available through our Family Centres, we're making it easier for parents to access expert advice, healthcare and early years support in their local community," said Councillor Peter Cannon, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.
Take‑up of funded childcare among highest in England
The City Council is also supporting families to access free early education through its Time for Twos scheme. New government figures cited by the council show that 84% of eligible two‑year‑olds in Milton Keynes are taking up their funded place — a rate the council describes as about 12 percentage points higher than the national average.
- New Best Start in Life Practitioners available across all Family Centres.
- Additional midwifery appointments and postnatal drop‑in sessions introduced.
- Time for Twos continues to deliver up to 15 hours funded early education per week for eligible two‑year‑olds.
Families seeking support are being encouraged to contact their nearest Family Centre for details of local sessions and how to access services. NHS midwives operating in the centres are able to advise on pregnancy, birth and newborn care, monitor health and wellbeing, and direct parents to further services where required.
| Service | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Best Start Practitioners | Child development, readiness for school, links to SEND and speech support |
| Midwifery sessions | Pregnancy and postnatal care, drop‑in appointments |
| Time for Twos | Up to 15 hours per week of funded early education for eligible two‑year‑olds |
The council says the expansion is intended to make it easier for parents to access joined‑up services close to where they live. For practical details about session times, eligibility for Time for Twos and how to book midwifery appointments, residents should consult the City Council’s Family Centre webpages or contact their local centre directly.
Information released by the council highlights growing demand for early years services in Milton Keynes and frames the latest measures as part of continued efforts to support child development and parental wellbeing across the city.
