We know that what happens during children’s early years can have a major impact on their later life chances. The government has made huge strides forward in this area: from its ambitious pledge to end child poverty within a generation, through tax credits and increases in child benefit to providing nursery places for all three and four year-olds and services like Sure Start.
However, there is now a growing body of evidence that suggests that effective interventions during the very earliest period of life – pregnancy and the first twelve months – could be the key to building a fairer Britain.
Striking differences in early life chances show the impact of poverty begins well before birth. Babies born to parents in manual work are more than twice as likely to die in the first year of life as those born to professional classes. A mother’s weight and diet during pregnancy (which is strongly linked to income) is a major factor influencing birth weight.
Low birth weight babies are more likely to suffer from ill health during later life and they are also more likely to grow up with a lower cognitive ability than babies born at a higher birth weight. Evidence from other countries shows that improving financial support during pregnancy – for example by introducing a pregnancy premium for families already on benefits – would deliver better outcomes for children, such as increased birth weight.
It’s important to remember that poverty reduces the chances of children’s success rather than leading inevitably to ‘failure’. In other words, risk is not destiny. Research shows that certain factors seem to protect children who grow up in the face of adversity, such as having a high level of self-esteem and above average intelligence, and an ‘easy’ temperament.
Parents play a crucial role in helping their children develop these skills and the very earliest months of a child’s life are critical. During the earliest months of life, a child’s brain seems to be ‘customised’ by his or her experiences. For example, the auditory centres of the brain are stimulated by the repeated sounds that babies hear and this can be important for later language and cognitive skills.
NHS professionals like midwives and health visitors could do more to ensure parents understand the benefits of repeated, positive interactions with their babies such as reading and talking to them. Other types of support – such as ‘home visitor’ services where experienced mums provide help and support to new parents – should also be expanded.
Further improvements to maternity pay must also be made, not only because they will help reduce the risks of poverty associated with having children but also because they will give mothers more genuine choices about whether to return to work in the first year of their child’s life.
For many children, the quality of non-parental childcare they receive in the first year of life will be a crucial factor in their development. The introduction of the national childcare strategy has placed childcare higher on the political agenda than ever before. Considerable investment has since gone into improving childcare provision, yet the amount of childcare in the UK is still pitifully low and what is available is very expensive.
So far the government has focused on increasing demand through the childcare tax credit. Labour must now ensure a step-change in the supply of childcare. Children’s centres should be established in every community, providing a ‘one-stop shop’ not only for childcare but also for family, health and other services.
‘A Future Fair for All’ was the title of this year’s party conference. A third-term Labour government must make improving support during pregnancy and the first year of life a priority to turn this slogan into reality.