Best Start in Life Family Hubs, Best Start Service (0-5) and Healthy Child Programme (0-19)

The London Borough of Waltham Forest ("the Authority") is procuring this provision using the Competitive Process as described within The Health Care Services Provider Selection Regime Regulations 2023. The service shall commence on 1st July 2027 and shall continue up to and including 30th June 2032 with the option to extend at the discretion of the Authority and subject to satisfactory contractual performance.

The contract has the following extension options: A further 24 months from 1st July 2032 to 30th June 2034. A further 21 months from 1st July 2034 to 31st March 2036.

Bidders are permitted to submit a tender for one lot, multiple lots or all of the lots, as they deem appropriate to their skills and experience. Bidders are advised that the Authority will evaluate Tenders for each lot separately and award each lot separately.

The service core aim is to ensure all children have the best possible start in life by promoting prevention, early intervention and family support, while reducing health inequalities. This funding enables the provision of integrated, accessible services-particularly for children aged 0-5-focusing on early identification of need, supporting healthy development, strengthening parent-child relationships and ensuring children are healthy, safe and ready to learn.

The Best Start (0-5) Service delivers a targeted early years public health offer focused on prevention, early support and improved outcomes for babies, young children and their families. It operates as part of the wider Best Start in Life system, working in partnership with health visiting, early help, Family Hub provision and community services to ensure coordinated support.

The service covers Infant feeding, oral health and healthy weight provision. The HCP is the universal public health framework for children and young people from preconception through to adulthood.

It provides a structured, evidence-based approach to promoting health and wellbeing, preventing ill health and reducing inequalities, ensuring that all children are supported to achieve the best possible start in life and their full potential. The programme operates through a proportionate universal model, combining a comprehensive universal offer with targeted and specialist support for those with additional or complex needs.

This approach ensures population-wide reach while enabling resources to be focused on those at greatest risk of poor outcomes. The HCP delivers a defined programme of interventions, including screening, immunisations, developmental reviews, and advice and guidance for parents, carers and young people. It supports families to play an active role in maintaining health and wellbeing, while enabling children and young people to develop the knowledge and confidence to manage their own health over time.