Early Years Minister and Children’s Commissioner visit Babyzone Barking & Dagenham

Earlier this week, the Early Years Minister, Olivia Bailey, and the Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, visited Babyzone Barking & Dagenham to meet local families and speak with parents about the government’s new screen time guidance for the early years.

The visit reinforced a message we hear often from parents: families are not looking for judgement. They want practical support that fits real life.

During the visit, Olivia and Rachel saw first-hand how community spaces like Babyzone hubs create welcoming environments where mums, dads and carers can bond with their children, feel part of a community and access local support in one place.

Babyzone is an example of effective early years collaboration and reflects the ambition behind the government’s Family Hubs programme: bringing together services around families, so they can access the support they need, when they need it.

Through partnerships between local authorities, healthcare teams and the voluntary sector, hubs like Babyzone show how collaboration can strengthen the support available to families, help parents build confidence, and deliver meaningful outcomes for children in their earliest years.

A huge thank you to the families who joined the visit and shared their perspectives and to our local partners who continue to support families across Barking & Dagenham. Working together across the early years sector will remain essential as we continue to support families across the country.