Prioritising early childhood to promote the nation’s health, wellbeing and prosperity

At a glance

The early years, from preconception through pregnancy to age five, shape health and wellbeing across the life course. This report makes the case for stronger, sustained action to improve health in early childhood, reduce inequalities and create the conditions for more children to have the best start in life.

Published: February 2024

Summary

The health of the UK population is deteriorating, with widening inequalities and growing consequences for individuals, communities and the economy. In this report, we set out the scientific and economic case for prioritising health and wellbeing in the early years, recognising early childhood as a critical window to improve health and wellbeing throughout life and across generations, and to strengthen future population health.

By bringing together evidence from health, economics and public policy, the report makes the case that investing in the earliest years of life is one of the most effective ways to improve long-term population health and reduce inequalities.

The report highlights both the urgency of the challenge and the opportunity for action. It demonstrates that evidence-based interventions can improve child health and wellbeing while calling for a more joined-up approach across government, the NHS, local authorities, research funders and communities. 

The urgency of the challenge is reflected in stark indicators: the societal cost of issues that might have been avoided through action in early childhood is estimated at £16.13 billion each year, and the UK ranks 30th out of 49 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries for infant mortality. 

Its five priorities are to implement effective interventions, overcome policy silos, strengthen the child and family health workforce, improve access to data, and ensure that children, parents and carers are represented in the development of policy and practice.

By making the early years a priority, the report argues that prevention can begin earlier, delivering lasting benefits for children, families, communities and the wider health system.

The case for investing in early childhood is as compelling today as when the report was published. Its recommendations continue to provide a strong foundation for work to improve population health, reduce inequalities and strengthen prevention across policy and practice.

What’s happened since

Since the report was published, the Academy has used its recommendations to shape policy, convene partners and strengthen the case for prevention in the early years. In the UK, we have brought this evidence into government and cross-sector discussions on prevention, inequalities and the early years, helping to shape wider policy development and strategic thinking.

Internationally, the Academy has convened experts from across high-income countries to compare policy approaches, share evidence and explore common challenges in improving children’s health and reducing inequalities. Alongside this, we have contributed to wider UK discussions on prevention, population health and the future of childhood, while collaborating with the British Academy on children’s thriving at school and supporting evidence synthesis on water fluoridation.

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Work with us

Improving health in the early years is one of the clearest opportunities to strengthen prevention across the UK. As part of the Academy’s wider prevention agenda, we welcome opportunities to work with policymakers, researchers, healthcare professionals, funders, local leaders, charities and others to improve population health, reduce inequalities and help give more children the best start in life.

About the report

The report was co-chaired by Professor Helen Minnis FMedSci and Professor Sir Andrew Pollard FMedSci, and informed by wider input from Fellows, Council members and other experts.

Other Fellows on the Steering Group

Read the report

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