Appointed as the Government’s early years health adviser, the MP for South Northamptonshire’s Review into Early Years Health will look at reducing inequalities in children from birth to two and a half, and the barriers that impact early years development, including social and emotional factors, and early childhood experiences.
The first 1,001 days are considered critical for development, and have a significant impact on physical health, mental health and opportunity throughout life.
However, children living in the poorest households have significantly worse health outcomes than other children, which can be caused by stress and smoking in pregnancy, as well as communication problems due to language inequalities.
The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the review was part of the Government’s commitment to 'levelling up' the country and helping every child reach their full potential.
The review will seek to show how to reduce disparities in low birth weight, social and emotional development in early years, and reduce impacts of vulnerability and adverse childhood experiences in this stage of life.
Research from NHS England suggests that one in five mothers and one in 10 fathers experience mental health problems during pregnancy and after birth. Pregnancy can often be a trigger for domestic abuse, with between 15-30 per cent of domestic violence cases starting during this time, the Government claimed.
Understanding lessons learnt from Covid-19, including minimising the risks from the pandemic to very young children, and better using technology, the Government said it would work with academics, health professionals and other experts to identify policies and services that will improve the outcomes for vulnerable babies, children and their families.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, ‘All parents aspire to provide their children with the best possible start in life and this Government is committed to ensuring that no child is left behind.
‘Everybody should have a solid foundation on which to build their health and this review will look to reduce the barriers and improve early childhood experiences.
‘We are determined to level up the opportunities for children, no matter where they come from or grow up.’
Ms Leadsom said, ‘Ensuring that every baby has the best start in life is my passion in politics and I am delighted to be asked by the Prime Minister to chair a review of early years services on behalf of the Government.
‘Infant mental health is about more than babies. It’s about improving our whole lives and striving for better outcomes that have a profound effect from cradle to grave.’
The new review will build on findings from the inter-ministerial group on the early years, which Ms Leadsom chaired between 2018 and 2019, visiting support services across the UK to look at the ‘postcode lottery’ to see what services were on offer to families, and what was missing. The group gave their recommendations to the Government in July 2019, shortly before Theresa May resigned.
The new review is expected to submit findings and policy recommendations from the first phase in January 2021.
Its work will involve a wide range of stakeholders, including independent academic experts, maternity and children’s specialists, leading commissioners, service providers and professionals, and parliamentarians.
Health Minister Jo Churchill said, ‘Most babies are born healthy and enjoy a safe and nurturing childhood. We know the first 1,000 days of a child’s life is critical, providing a solid foundation as children for growth and development throughout their lives.
‘However, some do not have the same advantages. We want to remove barriers so that all babies and young children are supported and nurtured to be ready for school and ready for life.
‘This review will help ensure every child has an opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background and achieve their potential. We look forward to receiving Andrea Leadsom MP’s recommendations.’
Ms Leadsom was leader of the House of Commons under Theresa May’s Government. She was appointed business secretary by Boris Johnson last July, a post she held until February this year, when she was sacked in the reshuffle.
Writing on the Conservative Home website recently, she said, ‘My own return to the backbenches means I can now focus on taking forward this early years work, and I am delighted that our new prime minister has promised to support me. The wheels are in motion, and I am looking forward to making a real, positive difference to this critical period of life.’
'Early years funding crisis'
Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of the National Children’s Bureau, said involving parents in the review was crucial.
'It is so important that inequality doesn’t hold children back, so we particularly welcome the review’s commitment to address this issue.
'Our research into infant mental health confirmed that building parents’ capacity to have rich and rewarding relationships with their children can make the greatest difference. Bringing parents on board is crucial, particularly those who have to overcome inequality themselves, particularly as a result of income, ethnicity or disability.
‘The review’s recommendations must be backed by investment. In order for Andrea Leadsom’s work to influence the Spending Review in the autumn, we urge her to publish interim findings, particularly around addressing the funding crisis undermining health visitors and early years settings, to ensure that crucial decisions on spending are not made before the review is published.’
Councillor Judith Blake, chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said, 'Councils have led their communities through the pandemic and will continue to play a crucial role in providing children from disadvantaged backgrounds with the support they need during this initial formative stage in their life.
'We share the commitment of the review to reduce inequalities and to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life. It is vital that it recognises the need for a joined-up approach across all public services and Government departments, in order to ensure future generations of children and adults are healthy.
'The importance of early intervention and prevention services for children and families cannot be overstated and we are keen to work with the review to ensure councils have the right resources to support infants and parents when they need it most as part of a long-term sustainable funding settlement for early help and support services.'