Leadsom outlines emerging findings of the Government’s review into babies’ healthy development

Speaking at the online event, in which the First 1001 Days Movement ‘s Working for Babies: Lockdown lessons from local systems report was formally launched, Ms Leadsom said that the report findings ‘chime’ with what the Early Years Healthy Development Review has found.

The report highlighted the ‘hidden harms’ to babies during the spring 2020 lockdown and how there are often ‘baby blind-spots’ where babies’ needs are overlooked in policy, planning and funding.

The First 1001 Days Movement is calling for Governments across the UK to focus on how they can develop clear and committed leadership; mature and strong local partnerships; and professionals who are connected to each other and to their communities and empowered to meet families’ needs. 

Ms Leadsom’s Review, which will now be published at the later date of the end of February, will look at issues around joining up services; improving the use of digital services to reach parents; data sharing and local leadership.

She told attendees that evidence is emerging that services for babies have been ‘particularly better’ since the latter part of last year, when second and third lockdowns took place, largely because staff were not moved away as much as they had been in the first lockdown.

The Working for Babies report found that services for babies were ‘heavily depleted’ just at the moment of need. Half of respondents said they were not able to continue supporting all the families they usually worked with and 18 percent said their service ceased to provide support to all or most families.