A report out today endorsed by UKCP highlights the critical nature of perinatal care and early intervention in child development and avoiding maltreatment.
Building Great Britons is the result of work carried out by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Conception to Age 2 – The First 1001 Days, chaired by Labour MP Frank Field and Conservative MP Tim Loughton.
The report states that intervening early, even before a child is born, is the best way to provide a child with the emotional and social resources required to become a well-rounded member of society.
Chair UKCP Faculty for the Psychological Health of Children, Michèle Bartlett, said: “Building Great Britons makes a clear and compelling case for prioritising investment into support for women in pregnancy and for families during the early years of a child’s life.”
According to the report, without such intervention there will continue to be high intergenerational transmission of disadvantage and inequality.
“Investment, from conception and through infancy, is essential in ensuring the best outcomes for our children and to avoid perpetuating cycles of abuse, neglect and child maltreatment.
“The report clearly elaborates the social and emotional cost of not providing a supportive framework and, with the economic cost estimated at £23bn per annum, there is an undeniable argument for prioritising support for the first 1001 critical days,” added Bartlett.
Find out more about the All Party Parliamentary Group Conception to Age 2 – The First 1001 Days
Nisha Damji 