The aim of the review, launched by the Department of Health and Social Care in July, is to break down the barriers that can impact on early years development and level up the opportunities given to every newborn. It will focus on improving the support available to babies and their families in the period from conception to age two, often referred to as the 1,001 critical days.
To help shape the review, consultation responses from new parents, health service professionals, charities, volunteer groups and university staff and students can be submitted.
Commenting on the consultation, Andrea Leadsom MP, said, ‘As well as helping the review to shape the services needed by new babies and their parents, this questionnaire will help to gather experiences of parents who had a baby during the coronavirus lockdown. This will help us to understand the many challenges faced, as well as to learn what worked well and what new innovations we can build on.’
She added, ‘The findings of this questionnaire will help the review to shape our recommendations and to promote the best start in life for every baby.’
Reducing disparities in birth weight, improving social and emotional development in early years, and reducing the impact of vulnerability and adverse childhood experiences in infancy, will all be looked at in the review.
Dr Eunice Lumsden, head of early years at the University of Northampton, has been named as one of the members of the expert panel.
Dr Eunice Lumsden has contributed to a number of research projects and has a special interest in early years professional development, child maltreatment, adoption and poverty. In August she was made associate professor.
She is also a member of the Education and Childcare Route Panel for the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
Dr Lumsden said, ‘Research clearly highlights how health and social inequalities impact across the life course. There is a huge drive and will to make sure this research and practice wisdom shape a different future for our infants born now.’
As part of the next phase of the review, Ms Leadsom will be engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including independent academic experts, maternity and children’s specialists, leading commissioners, service providers and volunteers, and parliamentarians.
Building on conclusions from the Inter-Ministerial Group on Early Years Family Support, Ms Leadsom is expected to submit her findings and policy recommendations from the first phase of the review in January 2021. This Vision for Excellence in the period from conception to age two will be rolled out across England during 2021.
Public Health Minister Jo Churchill added, ‘To help inform our work, we want to hear from new or expectant parents, carers and healthcare professionals about their experiences of life with baby throughout this recent critical and unusual time living with coronavirus. What worked well and what could have been improved – so we can ensure babies and young children are supported and nurtured during these vital early years.’
Throughout the pandemic, community health and mental health services have continued to deliver vital safeguarding functions and to provide support for new parents or parents of small children, with greater use of digital and remote technologies.
During lockdown, a further £3.3 million in funding was also awarded to the Health and Wellbeing Fund to support mothers and babies, including improving perinatal mental health.
- The call for evidence for the Early Years Healthy Development Review is available here
