Earlier this month, the government renewed the mandatory requirement for local authorities to provide five health visitor checks for children in the first three years of life.
The decision has raised concerns about the sustainability of health visiting services at a time when health visitor numbers and budgets are falling.
Here, Local Government Association children and young people board chair Richard Watts says change is needed to maintain standards of provision.
"Since taking over responsibility for health visiting in October 2015, as part of the transition of public health into local government, councils have supported mums and dads in the early years of their child's life, identifying those who need a bit more help, making sure there is a good uptake of immunisations and that children are generally fit and healthy.
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