What’s currently being delivered
Our Key Partners
Hampshire’s Best Start in Life programme is delivered through strong partnerships across:
- Children’s community health services
- District and Borough Councils
- Early years education and childcare providers
- Hospitals, GPs, and health visitors
- Integrated Care Board & NHS Partners
- Local Children’s Partnerships
- Maternity and perinatal mental health services
- Parents, carers and families
- Schools
- Social care and early help teams
- Voluntary and community organisations
Where are we now?
Hampshire is generally a healthy, prosperous county but experiences vary within and between districts. Population size, birth rates, early years outcomes and socioeconomic differences tell us something about the experiences of families in Hampshire.
This data guides where and how services focus their efforts to support families and improve outcomes.
Understanding early years health in Hampshire
These statistics provide an overview of early years health, development, wellbeing, and family support across Hampshire. They summarise key data on population, maternity, child development, safeguarding, inequalities, and early health indicators to help understand the needs of children aged 0–5 and their families.
Overall population
Hampshire has an estimated total population of 1.4 million residents.
21.9% of the population are aged 0–17, which is 314,399 children.
Births and early childhood population
12,370 babies were born in 2024, equal to 8.5 births per 1,000 residents.
There are 69,294 children aged 0–4, making up 4.8% of the total population.
The largest numbers of 0–4‑year‑olds live in Rushmoor, Basingstoke & Deane, followed by Eastleigh.
Maternity and birth outcomes
64.6% of women accessed maternity care within 10 weeks in 2023/24.
An estimated 2,482 women are affected annually by perinatal mental health conditions.*
6% of women were smoking at the time of delivery in 2024/25.
6.9% of babies were born with low birth weight in 2023.
*based on a 20% prevalence applied to 12,412 births in Hampshire.
Bonding, feeding and early health
60% of infants will develop a secure attachment with a caregiver.
There were 75.5 hospital admissions per 10,000 children aged 0–4 for avoidable injuries (2022/23).
Vaccination rates include: 6‑in‑1 at 1 year (95%), MMR first dose at 2 years (91.7%), and MMR booster at 5 years (92%). The WHO target is 95%.
61.2% of infants were breastfed at 6–8 weeks (2023/24).
Health reviews and early development
92.7% of children received their 12‑month health review in 2024/25.
89.7% received their 2.5‑year health review in 2024/25.
84.7% of children were assessed as having a good level of development at 2.5 years in 2024/25.
71.9% achieved a Good Level of Development at the end of the Reception year in 2024/25.
Nearly 10,000 2‑year‑olds attending an early years setting were eligible for a progress check.
Children with SEND in early years settings include: 2,501 in day‑nurseries, 2,252 in pre‑schools, 371 in school‑based early years, 163 with childminders, and 5,087 children with developmental delay.
Poverty and inequalities
50.4% of children eligible for Free School Meals achieved a Good Level of Development (GLD) in 2024/25.
Achievement of GLD at the end of year R varies across Hampshire's 11 districts from 63.3% to 76.1%
20.7% of children were eligible for Free School Meals in 2024/25, an increase since 2020/21 and more than 10% higher than in 2014/15.
11% of Hampshire children lived in low‑income households in 2023/24, compared with 18.1% nationally.
Physical activity and weight
47.8% of 5–18‑year‑olds were physically active in 2023/24.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2024/25 was 22.8% in Reception‑aged children and 32.2% in Year 6.
Early help and safeguarding
161 four‑year‑old children are being supported by Early Help.
1,439 four‑year‑old children are identified as children in need.
325 children aged 0–4 are on a child protection plan.
215 children aged 0–4 are in care.
Data correct as of February 2026