The Changing Landscape of Early Childhood Intervention in the United Kingdom

The UK context for early childhood intervention has changed substantially over the past 5 years. There is a new awareness of the vital role of these services in improving the life chances of a wide range of vulnerable children, including children with disabilities. Within the changing landscape of services for young children, there is a growing recognition that needs of young children with disabilities and their families should be taken into account in all national strategies and local initiatives. There is a need for early childhood intervention services to respond positively to these changes. Major universal UK government programs, such as Sure Start and the Early Support Program, provide a positive base for developing local, family-focused early childhood intervention services. In this article, we discuss new national strategies in the United Kingdom that emphasize the crucial role of early childhood intervention.