Andrea Leadsom launches first 1,001 days podcast

The 1,001 Critical Days podcast will feature stories from parents and carers who gave birth during lockdown as well as discussions from sector leaders and academics. 

• Analysis: Priorities for childcare strategy

• Interview: Tulip Siddiq MP, shadow children and early years minister

It comes following the first report from Leadsom’s Early Years Healthy Development Review, which launched in March, and laid out six key recommendations to improve early years support and services for families.

Ministers who backed the review will also feature on the podcast including Jo Churchill, Conservative MP for Bury St Edmunds and Penny Mordaunt, Conservative MP for Portsmouth North.

Leadsom said: “This 1,001 Critical Days podcast will feature some of those who have been part of the Early Years Healthy Development Review’s ambitious journey. From parents to politicians, practitioners to academics, each episode explores different aspects of the early years. Parents in particular have had a tough time during the pandemic, and those interviewed have been open about their experience.”

Meanwhile, the First 1,001 Days Movement, which champions the importance of babies’ lives between conception and age two, is calling on the government to take urgent action to improve support for infants and new parents.

In a series of six new evidence briefs, the movement describes the factors that are necessary to optimise the wellbeing of our babies and young children, and explain the current state of government policy and services for families in the first 1,001 days. 

Andrea Leadsom’s podcast is available to listen to here with new episodes released every Wednesday.