6th June 2025
This week, a large coalition of children’s charities, including the iHV, came together in a joint letter to the Prime Minister calling for a sustained focus on addressing the needs of children in early childhood in the forthcoming Spending Review.
The coalition of over 70 organisations, convened by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) have united to collectively stand behind the Prime Minister’s vision for early childhood. This cross-sector letter reflects our shared belief that every child, from conception to reception, deserves the support they need to thrive. But this ambition needs investment to become reality. That’s why we’re urging the Prime Minister and Chancellor to take this critical opportunity at the upcoming Spending Review to invest in the early years so that every child is included and supported to thrive.
In the letter, the coalition make the case that, “The decisions made by the Spending Review on 11 June will set the context for the final stages of the Best Start in Life pillar of the Opportunity Mission, the 10 Year Health Plan and the Child Poverty Strategy, all of which are critical if we are to increase the number of children reaching a Good Level of Development. The Plan for Change stated you would prioritise spending decisions that would contribute to this milestone. Now we must see substantial, sustained investment in early years and family support if we are to deliver it.”
Alison Morton, iHV CEO said:
“Across the country, organisations and charities working with families with babies and young children see the human face of deteriorating child health and wellbeing, life chances thwarted in the earliest years and widening inequalities. It is against this backdrop that we have come together to make a stand, pledging our support for the government’s commitment to create the healthiest generation of children ever, whilst holding their ‘feet to the fire’ to turn their words into reality”.
Investing in early childhood is not only the right thing to do, it also makes sound economic sense. And we hope that the government will seize the opportunity in the Spending Review to invest in early services and social security to ensure that every child is included and supported to thrive.
