Nursery World - Coronavirus: Early years review considers benefits of digital support for new parents

Digital and remote support can be 'vital’ for new parents struggling to get the help they need during the pandemic, MP Andrea Leadsom told Nursery World in an exclusive interview about the Government’s Early Years Healthy Development Review.

Andrea Leadsom MP is chair of the Early Years Healthy Development Review

Although digital support should ‘never replace vital face-to-face support’, Ms Leadsom said that the Covid lockdown has shown that it can ‘significantly add to it’.

The Early Years Healthy Development Review, chaired by Ms Leadsom, is considering ways in which the power of technology can help give every baby the best start in life.

A digital version of the traditional Red Book, which records information on birth weight and immunisations, ‘is on its way’ and ‘play dating’ apps, using similar technology to dating apps, are also being looked into.

Ms Leadsom told Nursery World, ‘We’re looking at much better shared data and recordkeeping, and the digital red book is potentially a key part of that.’

Five clear ways in which technology could really enhance and support the first 1001 critical days of a baby’s life were outlined in a joint article with Ms Leadsom and Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone & Stocksbridge, in Conservative Home last week (12 November)

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