A healthy start

The Audit Commission has cast its beady eye over local implementation of government policy for children aged 0-5 during the past ten years. Giving children a healthy start looks at the impact of government funding on the health of under fives, considering how well local agencies manage the finances on offer and how far they are providing value for money. The report also discusses means to improve service delivery to vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations, such as lone and teenage parents and BME groups. Initiatives like Sure Start and the Healthy Child Programme are duly namechecked. However, criticism, when it comes, is reserved for lack of strategic commitment, with under fives' health "not always reflected in strategic plans, and ... rarely given priority in local area agreements (LAAs)." Along with the report, there's also a video showcasing some local initiatives.