MP Graham Allen Highlights the Importance of Early Years Intervention

The government- commissioned report recommends regular assessments of pre-school children which focus on their social and emotional development. This type of early intervention will improve the lives of vulnerable children, which will help break the cycle of "dysfunction and under-achievement". It also calls for a national parenting programme in the UK. Previous interventions have been too late and major social problems have become worse not better. MP Graham Allen was asked to assess how children who are from disadvantaged backgrounds could be given the best start in life.

His report highlights that success or failure in early childhood has "profound economic consequences", and calls for more private money to be channelled into early intervention schemes to help set children on the right path in life.

Society is failing to equip young children with the social and emotional skills they need in life, he says. "If we continue to fail, we will only perpetuate the cycle of wasted potential, low achievement, drink and drug misuse, unintended teenage pregnancy, low work aspirations, anti-social behaviour and lifetimes on benefits, which now typifies millions of lives and is repeated through succeeding generations".

Mr Allen's report details the impact of poor parenting and says very few parents-to-be understand how to build the social and emotional capability of a baby or small child. All parents need to know how to "recognise and respond to a baby's cues, attune with infants and stimulate them from the very start, and how to foster empathy", it says. The report highlights American research that shows the early years are the greatest period of growth in the human brain. This is why Mr Allen is stressing the importance to intervene in the early years, rather than later when the basic architecture, or wiring, of the brain is formed for life.

To read the full article and listen to Mr Allen on Radio 4 view the link below

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12216967