Millions of struggling parents are not being given access to vital “lifeline” support in spite of Tory levelling up promises, a charity warns today.
Action for Children has raised the alarm about a growing crisis after a third of lower-income families across England said they found it hard to access child development and parenting support for under fives.
This means youngsters are more likely to be behind their wealthier counterparts by the time they start school, campaigners warn.
Parents on low incomes were 40% more likely to have problems getting early years support, a new report found – amid warnings a huge attainment gap between the rich and poor will only get worse.
Mum Emma Vallejo-Mayila, 29, from Newcastle, said she had no contact from a health visitor, and was finding it hard to breastfeed son Rafael.
It was only after a local charity supported by Action for Children got in touch that she was able to get help, and access classes helping with her son’s co-ordination.
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Emma, who said she did not have any contact from a health visitor after her son’s birth said: “I wouldn’t have even known where to look or where to start so it was a relief.
“It didn’t just stop there – it was like a gateway to so much extra support. I found out about all the other groups from baby massage, stay and play and classes for his hand-to-eye coordination and overall development.”
Now the charity is calling on the next Prime Minister to ensure every family has access to early years support, a key part of the government’s leveling up agenda.
It estimates that around 2.7 million parents of children under 5 have either struggled or been unable to access at least one parenting support service over the past five years.
Rossanna Trudgian, head of campaigns and public affairs at Action for Children, said: “Every child deserves a chance at having the best start in life, that’s why we’re worried that disadvantaged children are being denied access to the services that allow them to catch up and level up for when they start school.
“We know from our own frontline services that helping families as early as possible is more effective in the long-run so investing in high quality child support and parenting programmes in every community should be a core part of the ‘levelling-up’ agenda.”
More than four out of 10 parents unable to access support said it impacted their mental health, leaving them feeling isolated and lonely.
Professor Becky Francis, Chief Executive of the Education Endowment Foundation, said: “By the time children start school, those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds are already likely to be behind their classmates. This attainment gap only widens throughout school.
“So it is deeply concerning that Action for Children have found lower income parents are struggling to access crucial pre-school child development and parenting support.
“Access to high-quality early years education is an important step in ending entrenched education inequality in England. It can play a vital role in making that sure that all children are given the best possible chance of thriving at school, regardless of their background.”
A Government spokesperson said: “We have made an additional £3.7 billion available to councils this year alone to help them deliver key services and support families.
“We’re also backing families with better and earlier access to services that keep them safe and healthy by investing millions in expanding a network of Family Hubs all over England and with the Supporting Families programme, which is helping to keep up to 300,000 families together safely and provide loving homes for children. We have also set out plans to tackle the choice and availability of childcare.”