Local needs analysis
Local needs analysis
Outcomes data baseline
The following data provides a snapshot of the available early years outcomes data for children in Cumberland as at March 2026. This provides a baseline for improvement for the Best Start in Life Strategy.
Population data
In 2024, there were 12,647 children aged birth to 4 years living in Cumberland, accounting for 4.5% of the total population.
In 2024, the general fertility rate in Cumberland was 48.4 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 44 years, similar to the national average (49.0 per 1,000). General fertility rates in Cumberland have been declining in recent years, reflecting the national picture.
In 2023 to 2024:
- 2,603 children aged 0 to 4 years were living in relative poverty (20.6%)
- 2,283 children aged 0 to 4 years were living in absolute poverty (18.1%)
Levels of child poverty in Cumberland for children aged 0 to 4 years are slightly higher than the England average for both absolute and relative poverty.
Good Level of Development profile at 5 years of age
In 2025, the Good Level of Development (GLD) for Cumberland at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) was 64%, compared to the national figure of 68.3%.
Over the last three years, Cumberland’s GLD fell by 1 percentage point (from 65% in 2022 to 2023 to 64% in 2024 to 2025).
| Academic year | Cumberland (%GLD) | National (% GLD) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 to 2023 | 65% | 67.2% |
| 2023 to 2024 | 65.2% | 67.7% |
| 2024 to 2025 | 64% | 68.3% |
Additional Good Level of Development (GLD) analysis
The percentage of children eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) who achieved the GLD was 45.4% which is 5.9 percentage points lower than the national figure.
Contextual data for Cumberland in 2025 highlights a 3.8 percentage point difference with the contextual GLD score of 69%.
The Early Learning Goals within the EYFS profile that showed the most significant gaps compared with national data in 2025 were:
- writing
- numerical patterns
- number
- self‑regulation
- word reading
The pupil groups with the lowest GLD compared with national figures were:
- children with English as an additional language (7.9 percentage points lower)
- children eligible for Free School Meals (5.9 percentage points lower)
In 2025, a slightly higher proportion of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) achieved GLD than nationally (0.6 percentage points higher). However, a lower proportion of children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) achieved GLD than nationally (0.8 percentage points lower).
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ‑3) data at 2 to 2.5 years
The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ‑3) is an assessment made up of 21 questions across five development domains:
- communication
- gross motor
- fine motor
- problem solving
- personal‑social
The ASQ‑3 is an integrated review completed by parents or carers and health professionals. It is used to help identify children who may require additional support.
The proportion of parents attending the 2‑year health check in Quarter 2 of 2025 to 2026 was 75%, representing a significant improvement from 48.4% in 2024 to 2025. Of the children who received the check, 87% were assessed as being at or above the expected level across all five areas of development.
The latest published national figures are for 2024 to 2025 and show that:
- 80.8% of children received their 2 to 2.5‑year review
- 93.9% of children completed ASQ‑3 as part of their review
Additional health data
Children’s health indicators in Cumberland present a mixed picture.
In 2024 to 2025, 74% of Reception‑age children were a healthy weight, slightly below the national figure. Dental health is comparatively positive, with 20.8% of 5‑year‑olds experiencing tooth decay in 2023 to 2024, better than the England rate.
However, there are higher levels of vulnerability at birth. Premature births in 2020 to 2022 were 81.9 per 1,000, above the national average.
Hospital activity also suggests increased need. Emergency admissions for children aged 0 to 4 years in 2023 to 2024 were significantly higher than the England average, although injury‑related admissions were slightly lower.
Early years nutrition indicators raise concern. Healthy Start uptake showed a downward trend in 2025. Breastfeeding rates remain low compared with national figures.
Between April and September 2025:
- 25.1% of infants were totally breastfed at 6 to 8 weeks (England 35.9%)
- 14.9% were partially breastfed (England 22.4%)
- 53.3% were bottle fed (England 34.2%)
Social care data
At the end of February 2026, the total number of children in Cumberland who were Children in Need (CIN) (with an open episode of need) was 1,809, a rate of 345 per 10,000 children aged 0 to 17. This rate has fallen from 395 per 10,000 in 2024 to 2025.
In the same period, 299 children had Child Protection Plans (CP), a rate of 57 per 10,000 children aged 0 to 17. The rate of child protection plans has increased compared with the previous year (53 per 10,000 in 2024 to 2025) and is higher than the England rate.
The percentage of re-referrals to Children’s Social Care for children with a previous referral within 12 months of their latest referral (February 2026) was 22%. This is in line with both the previous year’s figure for Cumberland and the national average.
For children aged 0 to 4 years, the figures were as follows.
| Indicator | Number | Rate / % | Population base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children in need (CIN) | 420 | 332.1 per 10,000 | 12,647 |
| Child protection plans (CP) | 92 | 72.7 per 10,000 | 12,647 |
| Re-referrals | 102 / 444 | 23% | Not applicable |
| Indicator | Number | Rate / % | Population base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children in need (CIN) | 273 | 375.5 per 10,000 | 7,270 |
| Child protection plans (CP) | 60 | 82.5 per 10,000 | 7,270 |
| Re-referrals | 53/288 | 18.4% | Not applicable |
In 2025, 33.3% of children with a Child in Need plan achieved a Good Level of Development (GLD), which is lower than the England average (38.8%).
Take-up of early childhood education and care
Take-up of the 3 to 4 year old entitlement across Cumberland is high. In January 2025, take-up was 100%, higher than the national average of 93%.
Take-up of early learning places for 2 year old's has declined slightly over the last two years. In Autumn 2025, take-up was 74.8%, which is lower than at least half of our statistical neighbours.
Family Hub data
Across quarters one to three in 2025 to 2026, Cumberland’s Family Hubs demonstrated strong reach. New family registrations exceeded targets and attendance volumes remained high as hubs expanded and awareness grew.
However, patterns of non‑engagement were evident in several areas. Limited involvement from health partners, reduced referrals and gaps in SEND engagement affected the ability to reach vulnerable cohorts. Communication challenges, including inconsistent social media activity and a lack of locality‑specific channels, meant some families missed information about sessions. Staffing shortages also limited the offer in some areas and affected the consistency of delivery.
These factors contributed to pockets of non‑engagement despite overall positive reach and increasing visibility of the Family Hub model.
Experiences of families and children
Experiences of families and children
Cumberland Children and Family Wellbeing Service's strengths in the participation of children and young people were recognised by Ofsted in the 2024 ILACS inspection.
Sine then, we have launched our first Participation and Engagement Strategy to create opportunities for children, young people and families to help shape decisions and influence services through a range of Youth Voice groups.
Within Family Hubs, Parent and Carer Champions are actively recruited. Their input into shaping the offer is welcomed and celebrated through ‘You said – we did’ notice boards. To ensure a coordinated approach, a Volunteer Coordinator works in partnership with the Community Development Team and voluntary sector groups.
There is currently underrepresented from fathers, families from diverse ethnic backgrounds and families who are not yet engaging with Family Hubs. Stakeholder feedback emphasised the importance of extending the Family Hub offer into community spaces to improve accessibility and increase engagement among families less likely to access early years groups.
Existing strengths
Following the formation of Cumberland Council on 1 April 2023, a two‑year Early Years Strategic Plan was developed and implemented through multi‑agency early years strategic group, strengthening partnership working across services. Examples of impact include:
- early years providers receiving strong advice, guidance and support from the Early Years Team and Speech and Language Therapists (SALTs)
- evidence of a more joined‑up approach between Health Visitors and Midwives when appointments are delivered from Family Hubs, improving coordination of support for children and families
- learning from the Transformation Fund 1 (TF1) pilot Family Hub, opened in April 2024, used to shape the wider roll‑out across seven Family Hubs the following year
- development of a core Best Start in Life offer across Family Hubs that responds to community needs and strengthens early support pathways
Challenges and opportunities
A joint review of the Early Years Strategic Plan in 2025, carried out with Blackpool Better Start, highlighted several areas for improvement.
There are significant gaps in integrated intelligence across maternity, health visiting, early years, SEND, and Family Hubs. The absence of shared digital protocols means data on coverage, referrals and progress remains siloed. This makes it harder to identify needs early and to understand the impact of interventions.
There is also limited specialist support for children aged birth to five experiencing attachment difficulties or challenges with emotional self-regulation. Provision for children under five with complex SEND needs is inconsistent, and greater integration between Early Help, Health and Education teams is required to meet these needs effectively.
Workforce capacity remains a key pressure. Recruitment and retention issues across early years and childcare settings affect the stability and quality of provision and restrict the sector's ability to expand to meet demand.
Inequality and poverty continue to affect access to early years services. We need to strengthen inclusion and ensure that families with English as an additional language, refugee communities and fathers are better represented. We also need to increase co‑production with families who have lived experience, so services are shaped by the people they aim to support.
Finally, long-term sustainability is affected by funding constraints. Cumberland is one of the lowest-funded areas nationally for early years, and stakeholders have emphasised the need to challenge national allocations so they reflect the additional pressures created by rurality and coastal deprivation.