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Bradford District Manifesto for the 1001 Critical Days:
The Importance of the Conception to Age Two Period.
FINAL DRAFT
Securing a successful future for Bradford District depends on securing a successful
future for our children. We want to make sure every child can reach their full potential
regardless of where they live, cultural background or financial circumstance. This
means offering the right help at the right time to ensure they are happy, healthy and
achieving throughout their lives.
We share the vision published in the cross-party 1001 Critical Days Manifesto:
“A radical change is required to our approach to the 1001 Critical Days.
Our goal is for every baby to receive sensitive, appropriate and responsive
care from their main caregivers in the first years of life. Parents need to feel
confident that they are raising their children in a loving and supportive
environment.
A holistic approach to all ante, peri (around 20th week of pregnancy to around
the 28th day of life) and postnatal services would enable seamless access for
all families. This includes Midwives, Health Visitors, GPs, and Children’s
Centres, and services should engage with families as soon as possible –
ideally during pregnancy. The contacts that all parents have with services
before and after the birth of their child, provides a unique opportunity to work
with them at a stage which is so vitally important to the development of
children.”
See: http://www.1001criticaldays.co.uk/
This Manifesto underpins Bradford’s Education Covenant:
“We believe that every child in the Bradford District should have the chance to
realise their full potential and that working together with determination,
purpose and ambition we can achieve this.”
Specifically:
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All mothers and fathers will have access to antenatal or perinatal classes
which address both the physical and emotional aspects of parenthood, and
the baby’s well-being and healthy social and emotional development.
All parents, grandparents, carers and children will have access to quality, safe
play opportunities which support well-being and healthy social, emotional and
physical development.
All children and families will have a comprehensive assessment of their needs
completed by an identified Lead Professional and the Lead Professional will
co-ordinate a plan of care to ensure that, as far as possible within resource
boundaries, any identified needs are met.
Every child will have a documented action plan which identifies their plan of
care.
All professionals/services working with children and families will communicate
effectively and share information appropriately to ensure that the services
provided are as co-ordinated, productive and efficient as possible.
Families who are experiencing difficulties, and in particular vulnerable
families, will have access to evidence-based services which promote parentinfant interaction.
A range of services will be in place in every local area to ensure that parents
who are at risk or suffering from mental health problems are given appropriate
support at the earliest opportunity. This includes specialist parent and infant
mental health champion health visitors trained in this area, to improve
identification and support for families who need it most.
Every woman with a history of past or present serious mental illness should
have access to specialist support in relation to mother-infant interaction as
required, in accordance with NICE guidelines.
The People Can campaign will encourage and promote volunteering
opportunities for people to get involved in activities which support the
important conception to age 2 period.
Local commissioning and decision making boards will consider the social and
emotional health needs of babies, and include information about this in their
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and Local Health and Well-being Strategy.
Underpinning this will be a cost-benefit analysis to capture the full extent of
the costs to society that can be avoided through effective investment in the
first 1001 days.
Each children centre cluster area will have a comprehensive assessment of
needs available to enable effective planning and co-ordination of service
delivery between partner organisations.
Maternity services, health visitors, Early Year Providers, Early Help Panels,
Social Care, Adult Mental Health services and Children’s Centres will work
closely together to share vital data, ensuring those who need additional
support receive appropriate, timely, and culturally sensitive help.
Childminders, nurseries and pre-schools caring for under 2’s will implement
the Early Years Foundation Stage which includes a strong focus on the
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attachment needs of babies and infants. OFSTED inspection arrangements
are in place to ensure effective delivery of high quality provision. The Local
Authority will continue to reinforce the importance of all children attending
Good and Outstanding provision by removing funding for two year old early
education places from settings which are judged by Ofsted as Inadequate and
restricting funding where provision Requires Improvement.
Children’s Centres will continue to provide universal services for all families,
but with a focus on those families with the highest level of need. Outreach and
volunteer services will be recognised as potentially providing the greatest
success in reaching the most vulnerable and isolated families.
The health and early years workforce will have access to high quality,
evidence-based training in:
- infant mental health and attachment in order for practitioners to
understand parent-infant relationships and the services required when
difficulties arise.
- supporting families to develop a healthier lifestyle
- Early Help and Signs of Safety
Health and early years professionals will encourage parents to:
- Read, share stories and talk to their children as an effective and
straightforward way of strengthening early attachment and language
development.
- adopt a healthier lifestyle, preventing obesity and encouraging children to
be active from an early age
- Be aware of self-care, managing minor illness and accessing appropriate
care when necessary
- Improve oral and dental health from an early age
- Positively parent their children to promote infant mental health, secure
attachment, build self-esteem and improve resilience
Adopted by Children’s Trust Board October 2016, to be reviewed annually.