Early Years News Roundup | 🌱 UNICEF: Raising Parents Means Thriving Children

Need to Know 📌

Lessons from Sure Start – Why Cultural Embedding Matters

Despite its early promise and wide-reaching ambition, the UK’s Sure Start programme – once hailed as a transformative model for early years support – ultimately failed to become a permanent feature of British society. At an IFS Sure Start conference which Babyzone attended last week, Ed Balls, former Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, candidly described this as “the biggest failure of my life.” His regret wasn’t about the programme’s design or outcomes, but the inability to make it politically and culturally indispensable.

At Babyzone, we reflect on this history with clear eyes. Sure Start's fate holds essential lessons for everyone working to build a better early years system. Its story is a reminder that good programmes don’t speak for themselves – they need strong political architecture, sustainable funding, and compelling public narratives.

Why Didn’t Sure Start Stick?

• Lack of Cross-Party Endurance: Without deep political consensus, Sure Start couldn’t weather government changes or economic austerity.

• Narrative Undermining: As the media spotlight shifted to “Broken Britain,” successes were drowned out by stories of failure and crisis.

• No NHS-Level Status: Unlike the NHS or education, Sure Start never reached the level of beloved, untouchable institution.

• Slow-Burn Evidence: While it had built-in evaluation, real impact took time to emerge – longer than political patience allowed.

• Siloed Structures: The programme sat uneasily across departments, with fragmented leadership and tight budgets.

What’s Needed for Future Success

Experts now argue that effective early years models must:

• Be embedded in legislation that outlasts political cycles.

• Have stable, long-term funding linked to realistic goals.

• Be championed at cabinet level by someone with cross-departmental authority.

• Tell clearer stories – what works, for whom, and why.

• Stop the cycle of “buying and selling” programmes with every election.

As Gabriella Conti summarised, “The programme will never survive, never embed and never develop” unless we shift our mindset.

At Babyzone, we’re committed to helping build that foundation – and to making early years support not just effective, but truly untouchable.

In the Know 🔎

Raising Parents Advocates Support And Empowerment For Families And Thriving Children

UNICEF's "Raising Parents" initiative highlights the importance of supporting families through comprehensive parenting programmes and policies, benefiting both children and society. This approach not only improves parent-child relationships but also enhances societal well-being, workplace productivity, and economic health. By advocating for governmental and business investment in parental support, UNICEF emphasises nurturing environments crucial for child development.

Pre-Pregnancy Planning Is the Key to Positive Child Development Outcomes

Optimising physical and mental health before conception is crucial for child development, affecting outcomes like behavioural and communication skills. Research encourages healthy diets, exercise, and stress management for prospective parents, underscoring the importance of early intervention in enhancing future generations' well-being.

Insights & Impact 🔬

Cognitive Development in Cooled Infants with Neonatal Encephalopathy and Longitudinal Changes

Children cooled for neonatal encephalopathy (NE) show cognitive development changes from infancy to school age, where scores often decline. Despite therapeutic hypothermia improving survival and reducing severe disabilities, nearly two-thirds had lower IQs than anticipated. This highlights the need for ongoing cognitive monitoring and support, especially in socio-economically deprived areas, to better assist their developmental journey.

DSM-5-TR Casebook Details Essential Guide for Child and Adolescent Mental Health

The "DSM-5-TR Casebook and Treatment Guide for Child Mental Health," edited by Dr. Peter S. Jensen and Dr. Cathryn A. Galanter, is an invaluable resource for clinicians addressing child and adolescent mental health. This comprehensive book offers structured case studies and best practices for complex psychiatric issues like trauma, self-harm, and gender dysphoria, serving as a critical guide for both new and experienced practitioners in mental health.

Global Perspectives 🌍

Assessing Canadian Kindergarteners by Exploring Biases and Effective Mitigation Techniques

Bias in kindergarten assessments can influence educators' perceptions of student abilities, with significant attention needed to reduce its impact through improved resources, training, and cultural responsiveness. This understanding is vital for ensuring equitable education outcomes, particularly in diverse classrooms.

China’s Children Embrace AI Learning While Western Classrooms Lag Behind

In case you missed it in last week’s edition, China’s commitment to early AI education—beginning in kindergarten—establishes cognitive advantages for its next generation, while the US lags due to policy hesitancy and restricted classroom use. Neuroscience supports the impact of early exposure. Prioritising AI literacy from the start is crucial for future competitiveness.