Best Start

Best Start is a Victorian government early years initiative which supports families, caregivers and communities to provide the best possible environment, experiences and care for young children in the important years from pregnancy to school.

Best Start aims to improve the health, development, learning and wellbeing of all Victorian children supporting communities, parents and service providers to improve universal early years services so they are responsive to local needs. It has a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

Best Start is a response to the extensive body of international research that highlights the importance of the early years of life in terms of brain development and laying the foundation for a child's learning, behaviour and wellbeing later in life.

The City of Frankston Best Start priorities for 2011 - 13 are:

• Increased rate of children who participate in physical activity
• Proportion of children whose parents report high levels of social support

For more information on Best Start please contact Children's Services on 1300 322 322.

Key facts about children in the City of Frankston:

• The City of Frankston has a higher percentage of children aged 0-8 years than the Victorian average
• The City of Frankston has a significantly higher percentage of one parent families than the Victorian average
• The City of Frankston has a significantly higher percentage of child protection substantiations for children aged 0-8 years than the Victorian average
• The City of Frankston has a significantly lower percentage of children attending the 3.5 year key age and stage Maternal and Child Health visit than the Victorian average
• The City of Frankston has a significantly lower percentage of children participating in kindergarten than the Victorian average although there has been a marked increase in this area in the last 2 years

Related information Websites:

• UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative
• Australian Early Development Index
• Playgroup Victoria

Related Frankston Council Links:

• Playgroups
• Childrens Service - 0 to 5 Years
• City of Frankston Municipal Early Years Plan - Action Plan 2008-2013