Kate Middleton launches Centre for Early Childhood

The centre, which has been developed with input from the Anna Freud Centre, will focus on research, working with people across the private, public and voluntary sectors on new solutions and campaigning to raise awareness.

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In a video to mark the launch of the project, Kate said: "Working closely with others, the centre hopes to raise awareness of why the first five years of life are just so important for our future life outcomes, and what we can do as a society to embrace this golden opportunity to create a happier, more mentally healthy, more nurturing society.

Today I’m proud to be launching The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood — let’s embrace this golden opportunity to create a happier, more mentally healthy and more nurturing society.https://t.co/KKE6QfX99c pic.twitter.com/CWFogp9NZ3

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) June 18, 2021

"By working together, my hope is that we can change the way we think about early childhood, and transform lives for generations to come."

The centre’s first report, Big Change Starts Small, states that the cost of “missed opportunities” in early childhood cost £16.13bn per year in England alone.

“This is the cost to society of the remedial steps we take to address issues — from children in care to short- and long-term mental and physical health issues — that might have been avoided through action in early childhood,” the report states.

In a series of recommendations published as part of the report, the centre is calling for:

• Increased awareness of the impact of the early years

• A mentally healthier and more nurturing society 

• Communities of support for young families

• A strengthened early years workforce

• The use of data to plug gaps in early years research and best practice work for the early years.

• Long-term and intergenerational change for the sector

The launch comes as latest government figures show that 2,500 early years settings in England have closed in the first six months of this year.