One month of Start Strong: New research and Have Your Say survey launched

The launch of Start Strong came after many months of research, insight and working closely together with a wide range of early childhood experts, sector leaders and our founding partners Ethos Foundation, Collective Futures, Nesta, Impact on Urban Health, Tessa Jowell Foundation and Minderoo Foundation.  

We’ve had fantastic feedback from people both inside and outside of our networks (you can join our mailing list here to stay up to date with our work), and our team has been busy. 

We’re looking forward to building on this momentum and sharing more with you, but for now... 

We launched our new narrative change research, A stronger story: building public support for babies and young children

Our new research, A stronger story: building public support for babies and young children created with More in Common shows that 91% of people recognise the importance of pregnancy and the first five years for later outcomes. But that understanding isn't translating into the sustained public attention or political action babies and young children need.

So in our new research, we tested what could work better, and we've turned the evidence into practical tools for anyone communicating about babies and young children. We invite you to try them, test them and tell us what works.

Visit our Research page to read the full research report, executive summary and How-to guide for those improving outcomes for babies and children.

Start Strong was mentioned at the second reading of the Babies Bill

On the launch day of Start Strong, 4th September, the Infants, Parents and Carers Bill (Babies Bill) passed its second reading in the House of Commons. This Bill shines a spotlight on babies and young children and is intended to give a stronger statutory footing to vital services in pregnancy and early childhood. 

Crucially, it also gives a mechanism for parliament and the public to hold Government to account. The Babies Bill requires the Health Secretary to define these services, regularly assess families’ needs to secure appropriate levels of provision, and report annually to parliament on both provision and outcomes. 

We were pleased to hear so many MPs speak up for babies, young children and families, and to get a special mention for Start Strong alongside Jess Mills, daughter of Dame Tessa Jowell and CEO of the Tessa Jowell Foundation. 

Alongside the Bill, what else can make a difference for babies and young children? 

Listen to our Director Sally Hogg explain to Henry Bonsu on Times Radio on September 4th about why it is vital that we build public support for action in early childhood so that governments are supported to take bold action. 

In the press:  Read Start Strong Director Sally Hogg arguing in Children & Young People Now that any legislation must be accompanied by a public mandate for action. 

We launched our public call for evidence – we want your views on early childhood 

We're inviting the public to help us answer this big question to feed into a new National Vision for early childhood: 

What should governments across the UK do to ensure every baby and young child gets a fair start in life? 

Take part in our national survey from now until 16th October.

There are different ways to take part, with surveys for: 

• Adults (including but not limited to parents, practitioners, researchers) 

• Children and young people (aged 6-18, some participants may need an adult to help) 

• Babies & under 5’s (With activity pack to capture ideas and experiences) 

Responses to the public survey will be shared at our Citizens’ Assembly this Autumn and will help shape a new National Vision for early childhood setting out our shared aspirations for babies and young children in the UK. 

Children’s outcomes worsening – new Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report shows. 

RCPCH’s flagship report State of Child Health was updated in July 2026 after nearly a decade since the first edition. 

The new data shows worsened and stagnated health outcomes for children across the UK, and significant inequalities, with the impact felt most sharply in deprived areas and other marginalised communities. 

Sally spoke to Claire Summers on BBC Radio Wales on how these statistics are part of a wider story about children’s health and the need not only to improve services, but also to change systems surrounding families to give all children a fair start in life. 

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