There is overwhelming evidence that the first 5 years of a child's life are critically important in shaping their emotional, physical and educational development. Early years experiences shape how well a child does at school and influences the path they take as adults. Growing numbers of parents are struggling with poor mental health, isolation and financial difficulties during these early years and support to overcome these difficulties is crucial to give every child the best start in life.

HSN work with hundreds of families a year, providing early intervention support to help parents overcome the challenges they face and build resilience before reaching crisis point. Our trained volunteers and staff work with families in their own homes and in learn through play groups offering weekly practical and emotional support and guidance, helping families find solutions to the problems they face, make positive choices and learn new ways to engage in their child's learning and development.