A government survey has found that about one in three parents have turned to social media for parenting advice. The Department for Education is due to publish guidance on Tuesday to help parents access evidence-based information on feeding times, where to find childcare, sleep and speech and language development.

The guidance is released as £12 million is distributed across 65 local areas to establish Best Start family hubs offering parenting support and youth services. The programme also plans to roll out up to 1,000 hubs nationwide from April 2026, backed by £500 million. The minister for early education said the aim is to help parents cut through the noise and provide a space where trusted advice is available both offline and online.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised that the early years lay the foundation for future opportunities. A Censuswide survey found 57% of parents are unclear where to obtain reliable advice, and 57% said mistrusting online information has led to delays in making decisions. The Best Start in Life strategy will build on the Sure Start legacy, which began in 1999 to provide family health and parenting support; funding for Sure Start fell by more than two-thirds after 2010, with more than 1,340 centres closing between 2010 and 2022. Officials say Sure Start had a broad positive impact on educational outcomes and on reducing the need for SEN support and school absence. The government has set a target for 75% of five-year-olds to reach a good level of development by 2028. The Best Start in Life campaign is launching with a short film featuring Oti Mabuse, Billie Shepherd and the cartoon character Mummy Pig to remind families that help is always accessible.