We were delighted to hear from Thrive at Five that new data is showing encouraging signs of improvement in early years outcomes in Abbey Hulton and Bentilee, particularly for children eligible for Free School Meals.
Between 2024 and 2025, the proportion of children achieving a Good Level of Development rose more in Thrive at Five’s partner schools than citywide averages, and children eligible for Free School Meals in Thrive at Five wards are now more likely to be achieving a Good Level of Development than their peers across Stoke-on-Trent. You can find the full data, with a breakdown of all the figures and an analysis, on the Thrive at Five website here.
At EPIC we’re passionate about supporting early years development in the local area however we can. In addition to providing financial support to Thrive at Five, we’ve also attended many of their community events, running arts and crafts activities for families with young children. We also supported local families by providing £20 Housing Perks vouchers towards the cost of a coat (2024) and a pair of school shoes (2024 and 2025).
