Early years healthy development review: call for evidence
Updated 9 October 2020
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/early-years-healthy-development-review-call-for-evidence/early-years-healthy-development-review-call-for-evidence
The questionnaire has been extended by one week to help capture a wide range of responses. The new closing date is 11:59pm on Friday 23 October.
About this call for evidence
We know the period from conception to the age of 2 is critical, with the potential to provide a solid foundation as babies grow and develop.
We are committed to ensuring that every baby and young child has the best start in life, and that they are supported and nurtured to be school ready and to progress in life, and we are determined to level up the opportunities for babies, no matter what their circumstances.
Our Early Years Healthy Development Review, led by government adviser Andrea Leadsom MP, will help ensure every child is given the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background, and achieve their full potential.
We are grateful for responses from new parents, health service professionals, charities and volunteer groups, so that your views can help to shape the outcome of the review.
How to respond to the call for evidence
The closing date for responses is 11:59pm on Friday 23 October 2020.
Questions
You are asked to indicate if you are responding as a parent or carer, as a healthcare professional or academic, or on behalf or an organisation or charity.
You can answer as many or as few questions as you like.
For reference, the questions we ask in the call for evidence are listed below. You should respond to the questions on our consultation website.
Parent or carer
1) Was your baby (or the baby you care for) born during the coronavirus pandemic?
a. Yes
b. No
2) With what issues did you need services and support or advice to help you as a parent or carer?
a. Your baby’s development
b. Your physical health and wellbeing
c. Your mental health and wellbeing
d. Breastfeeding
e. Diet
f. Sleep
g. Your partner’s wellbeing
h. Your relationship with your partner
i. Your relationship with another close family member
j. Other
3) Where did you go to get support and services?
a. Family
b. Friends
c. Baby groups
d. Online
e. Care professionals
f. Children’s centre or Sure Start
g. Family hub or family centre
h. Other
4) Did you get the support and services that you needed?
a. Yes
b. No
c. Other
5) What would have improved your experiences?
a. Having more support from partner or family
b. Having face-to-face local community support
c. Having access to different services which better suited my needs
d. Having access to support and services earlier in the pregnancy
e. Having access to support and services after my baby was born
f. Having more access or time with the services I did access
g. Feeling more supported by the professionals I interacted with
h. Having access to online resources and support which I could use when I needed them
i. I had a baby during the coronavirus pandemic. I feel as though I would have had the support and access to services I needed if it wasn’t for the pandemic
j. Unsure
k. Other
6) Are there any other thoughts you would like to share that are relevant to this review?
Healthcare professional or academic, or on behalf or an organisation or charity
1) What is the name of your organisation or employer?
2) What is the role of your organisation?
a. Volunteer
b. Charity
c. Service provider
d. Healthcare Professional
e. Other
3) Where is your organisation based?
a. England
b. Scotland
c. Wales
d. Northern Ireland
e. All of UK
f. Outside UK
4) What outcomes do you think are most important for an early years vision?
5) How do your families prefer to access services, help and advice?
a. Face to face
b. Telephone
c. Online
d. Combination of all
e. Other
6) Where is there most scope to improve services and help?
a. Training of specific providers
b. Data-sharing
c. Join-up of specific services
d. Online digital support
e. Other
7) What are the most common barriers to developing your offer to families, particularly those with higher needs? (Choose all that apply.)
a. Funding
b. Partnership arrangements
c. Training
d. Governance
e. Information-sharing or data
f. Evaluation and/or evidence
g. Other