Healthy child programme
Resources to help keep children in England healthy, safe and well from preconception to adulthood.
The healthy child programme is our national framework for improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 0 to 19 (age 25 for care leavers or those living with special educational needs and disabilities) in England.
It sets out evidence-based approaches to prevention, early intervention and family support, supporting the government’s ambition of raising the healthiest ever generation of children.
The programme underpins statutory responsibilities for local authorities and health services, and aligns with the 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future. The commissioning and delivery of the programme supports the aims of the plan by:
- promoting equity and access: services reach all families, with targeted proportionate support for those most in need
- integration across services: joined-up working across health, education and social care
- evidence-based practice: interventions supported by research and clinical standards
Commissioning and delivery guidance
Current guidance for local authorities, the NHS, integrated care boards and other providers to inform local implementation of the healthy child programme. This outlines:
- standards for commissioners to establish, monitor and assure the quality of services delivered by providers
- the expected delivery expectations for ages 0 to 19 public health nursing teams and providers
- a framework that complements the above by translating principles into nationally recognised, actionable priorities
See the ‘Terminology’ section of the ‘Delivery of the healthy child programme’ guidance for a summary of the specific terms used throughout these publications.
Supporting resources
The following publications inform or relate to the healthy child programme.
Evidence and other reviews
Updates to this page
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Collection updated with refreshed 'Healthy child programme: commissioning public health nursing services', 'Delivery of the healthy child programme' and 'Healthy child programme: high-impact area framework' guidance.
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First published.