The First 1000 Days: a renewed focus

Health and Social Care Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 21 Mar 2025 Parliament page
The first 1000 days of life, from conception to age two, are widely recognised as a critical period for child development, shaping long-term health, well-being, and life outcomes.The previous Committee examined this period in its 2019 First 1000 days of life inquiryconsidering national strategy, current spending and barriers to investment … Read more
18 Recommendations
8 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
3 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
28 Apr
2026
Correspondence
22 Apr
2026
Report published
22 Jan
2026
Report published
15 Oct
2025
Correspondence
3 Sep
2025
Oral evidence
2 Jul
2025
Oral evidence
2 Jul
2025
Correspondence
4 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
7 May
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
3 Sep 2025
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Oral Evidence
Ashley Dalton MP · Department of Health and Social Care Liz Ketch · Department of Health and Social Care Susie Owen · Department for Education
2 Jul 2025
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Oral Evidence
Anna Bird · Disabled Children's Partnership Dr Amit Aggarwal · Medical Affairs and Strategic Partnerships Dr Claire Fuller · NHS England Dr Doug Simkiss · Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Dr Helen Skirrow · Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London Dr Helen Stewart · The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Dr Sally Payne · Royal College of Occupational Therapists Jane Harris · Speech and Language UK Janet Cooper · Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
4 Jun 2025
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Oral Evidence
Alison Morton · Institute of Health Visiting Dr Christine Farquharson · Institute for Fiscal Studies Rachel Roberts · Hull City Council Rukshana Kapasi · Barnardos
7 May 2025
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Oral Evidence
Professor Sir Michael Marmot · University College London (UCL) Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom DBE · Early Years Healthy Development Review
Title HC No. Published Items Response
5th Report - First 1000 days: a renewed focus HC 802 22 Jan 2026 26 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
10 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - First 1000 days: a re…
Set out actions to hold poorly performing local authorities accountable for health visit delivery.
We are also highly concerned about the variation in performance amongst local authorities in delivering health visits. While it is clear that the system as a whole needs additional resourcing, it is unacceptable that some local authorities managed 100% uptake … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights improved health visitor service delivery metrics showing less variation and states it is already carrying out rapid performance improvement activity with local authorities. It also details ongoing measures, including assurance of grants, mandating external peer reviews every five years with accompanying improvement support, and launching a quality improvement partnership forum.
Department of Health and Social Care
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16 Conclusion Accepted
5th Report - First 1000 days: a re…
Declining childhood vaccination levels represent an ongoing public health crisis requiring urgent action.
The continuing decline in childhood vaccination levels since 2012 is a national disgrace; children should not be dying of entirely preventable diseases. The continued failure to effectively grapple with this is a significant and ongoing public health crisis and will … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the vital importance of vaccinations and the need to improve uptake, outlining a comprehensive plan including a national communication campaign, exploring new delivery methods, improving school consent, and providing NHS App access to vaccination records by 2026-27.
Department of Health and Social Care
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18 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - First 1000 days: a re…
Reinstate 95% vaccination coverage target in NHS guidance for all vaccinations.
We recommend that the Government immediately reinstate the 95% vaccination coverage target in NHS planning guidance for all vaccinations, including those given during the first 1000 days to mothers and children. We also call on the Government to commit to … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the 95% vaccination coverage target remains an established NHS target for a variety of childhood vaccinations, as included in the 2025-2026 public health functions agreement and planning guidance. It does not explicitly commit to hitting the target by the end of Parliament.
Department of Health and Social Care
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19 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - First 1000 days: a re…
Develop new vaccination plan to improve early years uptake, with named ICB leads.
Despite the measures contained in the Government’s vaccination strategy, vaccination rates are continuing to fall and the strategy is failing to deliver the improved coverage that is so desperately needed. The Government should brand the currently strategy a failure and … Read more
Government Response
The government defends its current NHS vaccination strategy and details ongoing commitments from the 10 Year Health Plan to improve uptake, rather than branding it a failure or developing a new plan. It notes that named executive directors for vaccination are already in place in ICBs, and highlights improvements in maternal pertussis and MMR uptake due to existing initiatives.
Department of Health and Social Care
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21 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - First 1000 days: a re…
Single Unique Identifier pilots demonstrate potential for simplifying early years data sharing.
The introduction of a Single Unique Identifier has the potential to significantly simplify data sharing across the early years landscape and we hope that currently planned pilots proceed smoothly and at pace. We ask that the Government commit to providing … Read more
Government Response
The government states that DfE, DHSC, and NHS England are jointly overseeing single unique identifier pilots, with two ongoing and a third planned for 2026, and commits to providing biannual updates on their progress.
Department of Health and Social Care
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25 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - First 1000 days: a re…
Simplify data sharing guidance with Integrated Care Systems to improve provider collaboration.
We recommend that the Department of Health and Social Care work with Integrated Care Systems to simplify data sharing guidance to improve data sharing between providers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 124)
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, outlining several initiatives to simplify data sharing, including developing a model data-sharing agreement for safeguarding data, piloting IG surgeries, and making changes to the COPI Regulations to facilitate data sharing for operational purposes.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Government Response AI assessment · 26 of 18 classified
Accepted 6
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 5
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 6
Rejected 3
Total 18 recs + 8 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
28 Apr 2026 Correspondence from Minister Hodgson - First 1000 Days Response
Parliament page
15 Oct 2025 Correspondence from Minister Dalton re First 1000 days evidence session
Parliament page
2 Jul 2025 Correspondence from Minister Daby re the First 1000 Days
Parliament page