Nature vs Nurture? – 1001 Cri0cal Days Vision Andrea Leadsom MP 15 January 2015 A Na0onal Perspec0ve •  3 legged stool – health, educa0on and mental health •  Earliest experiences and impact on babies •  Family breakdown and community Extent of rela0onship problems •  40% of UK children are insecurely aQached at the age of 5 -­‐ (higher in disabled children) •  By age 3, children in families with incomes below poverty line are 8 months behind in language and 9 months in school readiness compared with those above the poverty line Financial and social implica0ons “The real ques,on is how to use the available funds wisely. The best evidence supports the policy prescrip,on: Invest in the very young” James J Heckman, PHD – Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences Adverse childhood Experiences The Solu0on A vision with support from over 100 organisa,ons We need four structural changes: 1. Statutory foo0ng for Children's centres 2. Re-­‐focus in Children’s Centres to first 1001 days 3. Peri-­‐natal services delivered via children’s centres 4. The responsibility for peri-­‐natal services should be shi`ed to one Department Key Policies 1. Antenatal mental health ques0onnaires 2. Data Sharing 3. Red Book revitalised – ‘5 to Thrive’ 4. Birth registra0on in Children’s Centres 5. Universal parent-­‐infant rela0onship support availability 6. Volunteer peer programme 7. Under 2s services aQachment focus 8. High quality training and supervision 9. Rela0onship support for couples and wider family 10. Job centre and debt management advice APPG Concep0on to age 2 & PIPs Project Vision: To shape a society of emo0onally secure children who grow up to become fulfilled, socially responsible adults. Mission: to make psychotherapeu0c support available to all families who are struggling to form a secure rela0onship with their baby. Contact details 1001 Cri0cal Days – www.1001cri0caldays.co.uk Parent Infant Partnership UK (PIPUK) – www.pipuk.org.uk