About Us

Our Story 

Making the early years matter everywhere.

Every week, thousands of families walk into Babyzone spaces around the UK. There are no sign-ups. No waiting lists. No cost. Just warmth, play, and connection.

But Babyzone is more than a welcoming room. It’s a growing ecosystem turning everyday practice into confident parenting, skilled practitioners, and thriving children.

We believe every child deserves the best possible start in life. And we know the first years are the most powerful time to make that happen.

"I was recently asked by a journalist what a successful child looks like when they leave a nursery or childminder, and I found myself saying that it is not just about whether they can recite the alphabet, count to 100 or name 5 planets. A successful child for me is someone who is kind and empathetic and will go on in life to be kind and empathetic to other people. As I sit here today, this at Babyzone is the environment that shapes those qualities. A massive compliment to Babyzone because these are the critical years."

Neil Leitch, CEO, Early Years Alliance

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Pioneering in early years

Giving more children in the UK a fairer start in life which leads to improved long term outcomes around health, wellbeing, employability and inclusion.

Deliver high-quality Babyzone hubs

At the heart of Babyzone is the space itself. Warm, welcoming, and open to all. Our hubs are vibrant community drop-ins that bring families together for play, connection and support. They are co-located with local services and designed to be barrier-free: no booking, no cost, no waiting list.

But our hubs are more than places of comfort. They are dynamic learning environments. Every visit is an opportunity to test and refine practice. We observe what works, adapt quickly, and feed those lessons into our wider ecosystem.

These “living labs” are where our model is made real. From Croydon to Grimsby, every hub is a place where confident parenting and skilled practice grow, side by side.

 

Sharing freely and openly 

What happens in a Babyzone shouldn’t stay in a Babyzone. We believe that good ideas should travel and that the most powerful solutions are those that can be picked up and used by anyone, anywhere.

That’s why we translate everyday practice into open-access tools, from our Everyday Maths routines to our NEST emotional learning activities. These resources are evidence-based, easy to use, and freely available to families, practitioners and settings worldwide.

Through digital platforms like the Babyzone Academy we invite others to explore, adapt and contribute, so that our collective learning becomes a shared engine for change. Whether you're a parent at home or a policymaker shaping early years systems, Babyzone’s knowledge is yours to use.

 

Supporting people and systems to embed what works and scale it

Babyzone is committed to sustainable, scalable change. That means building the confidence not just of individuals, but of entire systems.

We equip early years practitioners with practical training through the Babyzone Academy, a growing online learning space that fosters reflection, community and professional growth. We support local authorities and community partners to establish and grow Babyzone hubs in new locations. And we work with national and global stakeholders to feed our learning into policy, funding and systems design.

This outward-facing approach ensures that Babyzone’s impact extends far beyond our walls. 

 

"It feels like therapy for parents. The kids are safe, free and learning. The parents can take part with them and feel empowered. This service is just brilliant - thank you!"

Parent, Barnet Babyzone

Our early childhoods, the time from pregnancy to five, fundamentally shape our whole lives. (Royal Foundation, 2024)
80% of neural connections, which influence our thinking, behaviour, resilience, and response to stress, are formed by age 2. (Johnson & Smith, 2016)
If we solve early years, we don’t just solve one of society’s problems – we can solve them all. Charles Mindenhall, Co-Founder & Chair, Babyzone
Primary caregivers play the most crucial role, but they do not exist in a vacuum and their capacity and ability are inextricably linked with their own experiences when they were growing up and with the support they receive, as adults, from the communities around them (Royal Foundation, 2021)