With all our political parties promising to ensure children have “the best start in life”, where do they stand on early years care, parental choice and the value of family life?

(This post does not offer an analysis of these policies nor does it endorse any particular party. It is purely for information purposes.)

We are delighted to announce that our research director Dr Maria Lyons has had her report published by independent think tank Civitas. Maria has reviewed 40 academic studies on universal childcare and finds a worrying lack of evidence on its supposed benefits. Universal childcare is frequently claimed to give every child the ‘best start in life’ but is this really the case?

Is more childcare going to be good for babies and toddlers? Putting to one side for the moment the important questions of whether the new expansion of childcare will help mothers back to work (something that is debatable) and whether the majority of mothers would prefer childcare to caring for their babies themselves (also worth a debate), this important question is not being discussed in the public response.

Starting this January, MAHM will be running a series of focus groups as part of an effort to engage directly with members and learn more about members' circumstances and experiences, particularly over this past year.

If you might be interested in sharing your story and chatting to others about what life is like for you, please do get in touch for further information to be sent to you.

Time Sensitive. Deadline is 23rd October 2020.

“The time from conception to the age of 2 is a critical time for development and can impact physical health, mental health and opportunity throughout life. The Early Years Healthy Development Review like to hear from recent parents, including those who gave birth during the lockdown and public health response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, about the experiences of care and services you received.”

Are you a new mother? Add your voice to MAHM’s and respond to this consultation.

This June we answered the call for evidence from the Centre for Social Justice and Fabian Society for the Cross Party Early Years Commission. The document which we submitted contain a summary of and reference to much of the fascinating and important research in the field of early years development.