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A Fairer Start Local: how to support early years innovation in local authorities

In A fairer start

24 Apr 2025

Online

This event took place on Thursday 24 April. You can watch the recording below.

Event recording

The opinions expressed in this event recording are those of the speaker. For more information, view our full statement on external contributors.

In 2021 Nesta launched A Fairer Start Local: a long-term innovation partnership with three local authorities to develop, design and test ideas for how innovation could transform early years services. Four years on, we’re sharing learnings and outcomes from the partnership at a special end of programme event.

On Thursday 24 April we heard from those who delivered the programme – from Nesta analysts and designers to early years leaders and practitioners in local authorities. We shared how Nesta and three local authorities worked together to improve outcomes for children in Stockport and Greater Manchester, Leeds and York.

In this interactive online session, we explored insights and learnings from our innovation partnership, exploring how Nesta and local authorities worked together to deliver innovation in the early years to help children thrive: from adopting a test-and-learn approach, to co-designing with parents and practitioners, and enhancing the use of early years data.

This lunchtime session was ideal for anyone interested in innovation for local services, especially in the early years. We shared what worked to build more effective early years services and our lessons on how to collaborate for effective innovation.

Tom Symons

He/Him

Tom is the deputy mission director for the fairer start mission at Nesta. His research focuses on government innovation and he is currently undertaking research into the ways data can help governments to improve decision making and support innovation. Prior to Nesta Tom was an associate at Social Finance, a not-for-profit organisation that works with government, the social sector and the finance community to develop solutions to complex social problems. At Social Finance Tom worked on projects developing Social Impact Bonds and whole systems change programmes in local public services, including children’s services, early years provision and health and social care integration. Tom previously worked at the Local Government Association, and before that was a senior researcher at the think tank New Local Government Network. Tom began his career as a graduate trainee at the London Borough of Islington. He has a BA in Economics and Politics from Exeter University and an MA in Housing from the University of Westminster.

Maura Appleby

She/Her

Maura has worked in the NHS and Local Authority roles as a nurse, health visitor and parenting practitioner. Her career was heavily influenced by working in the Sure Start local programmes. She went on to lead integrated teams and become a senior leader in the Stockport Family Integrated service. Most recently Maura has worked as a project leader in the AFSL Nesta partnership with Stockport and Greater Manchester. Her current role is Family Hubs Evidence Leader in Stockport linked to the Foundations Changemakers initiative.

Rob Newton

He/Him

Rob is the Local Evidence Lead at City of York Council. He comes from a background of teaching and school leadership and has spent the last 6 years working in local government across the diverse early years sector with a particular focus on improving outcomes for children in the first 5 years of their lives. He is particularly interested in place based, collaborative approaches that are grounded in research and evidence with a relentless focus on high quality implementation as a crucial ingredient for success. Within the Fairer Start Local project, Rob was York’s local lead for the entirety of the work.

Jessica Hunt

She/Her

Jess is Head of Behavioural Insights and Mission Innovation at the Department for Education. She is leading work to embed mission-delivery practices – such as test and learn – across DfE to support the Government’s mission agenda. Jess previously worked in the Behavioural Insights Unit where she designed and evaluated interventions to improve outcomes for young people in education and employment. She also had a year-long secondment as Deputy Director at TASO, the What Works Centre focused on reducing equality gaps in Higher Education.

Helen Binns

She/Her

Helen brings over 20 years’ experience of working in local government, rooted in a strong foundation with social care and Community work. With a particular focus on relational-based practice and service transformation, Helen is a Project Manager within Childrens Services and currently manages the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller Team alongside a range of other local projects. A passionate advocate for whole-family working and restorative practice, Helen ensures that family-led decision-making and the voices of families are at the heart of all service development and delivery. By integrating family perspectives into practice, she works towards creating services that are not only responsive but deeply reflective of the needs of the communities they serve and received an MBE in 2023 for services to vulnerable people. Whether through community liaison, relationship-building, or guiding practice improvements, Helen remains committed to creating services that empower families, strengthen community ties, and foster long-term positive outcomes.

A Fairer Start Local: how to support early years innovation in local authorities

About Nesta

A Fairer Start Local: how to support early years innovation in local authorities

This event took place on Thursday 24 April. You can watch the recording below.