Parent-Infant Foundation responds to Government’s latest spending review

Earlier today Chancellor Rachel Reeves MP set out the government’s spending for the next three years in the Spending Review.

Reflecting on the announcements, Keith Reed, Chief Executive at the Parent-Infant Foundation said:

“We welcome the commitment in today’s Spending Review to continue to “invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme, working with parents to help give children the best start in life”. However, as only 75 local authorities currently get Family Hubs funding, we had hoped that it would include funding for national roll out to every local authority, as recommended by the CQC and Ofsted. This wasn’t confirmed today, so we look now to the Department for Education to confirm if the Family Hubs budget will be increased to support national roll out.  

“We are disappointed that the Spending Review made no mention of crucial Start for Life services that support parents, babies and young children in the critical first 1001 days. In the middle of Infant Mental Health Awareness Week, it’s a missed opportunity to reinforce the fundamental importance of supporting early child development through parent-infant relationship teams, breastfeeding support, maternity and health visiting services. We hope further clarity will be provided by the Department for Health and Social Care in the 10 year plan for the NHS, due later this month. 

“After all, the reason the Family Hub and Start for Life programme has always been a joint programme across the DfE and DHSC, is that a hub, without services, is just a building. The 10 year plan must commit to improve the life chances of thousands of babies born each year in the UK who leave hospital without the care and support they need.”

This Infant Mental Health Awareness Week we’re asking ‘Who is holding the baby?’ – See our new report and ways to get involved here.