The Digital West Berkshire Magazine - Autumn / Winter 2025

Welcome to the Your West Berkshire magazine - Autumn / Winter 2025 Edition

West Berkshire is a place we're proud to call home, and it's the people, communities and shared values that make it so special.

Here, we believe that every child deserves the strongest foundation for a happy and healthy future. That's why the government has launched a new strategy called 'Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life,' aimed at enhancing early years support by integrating health, education, and social care services. Central to this approach are Best Start Family Hubs - welcoming spaces where families can easily access the help they need, all under one roof.

From April 2026, West Berkshire will receive new funding to expand our Family Hubs. This means we'll be able to offer even more support to families across the district, building on the great work our hubs already do.

We also support children's development through targeted programmes like A Flying Start and Reading Together, and work closely with our nurseries and schools to ensure every child is ready to learn
and grow.

We're very proud that nearly 75% of children in West Berkshire reach a good level of development, 4% above the national average. This reflects our joined-up approach, from speech and language support to SEND engagement and smooth transitions into school.

With 95% of schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, and exam results consistently above national averages, we're also proud of our strong partnerships that drive both excellence and raised aspirations.

As a Council, we work every day to nurture that sense of belonging - delivering services that matter, investing in our future and helping residents of all ages thrive.

In this edition of Your West Berkshire, we shine a light on some of the services shaping our district, including: