The Duchess of Cambridge has unveiled the findings of the biggest ever UK study on the early years ‘5 Big Questions’. The survey was a part of Catherine’s long-term project ‘Early Years Intervention’. Named as ‘5 Big Insights’ the survey results talks about how to raise the future generation and initiates a conversation about the importance of early years in a child’s life.
This week, The Duchess joined Kelly Beaver, Managing Director of Public Affairs for IpsosMORI, for a briefing on the landmark research revealing what the UK thinks about the early years, commissioned by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and conducted by Ipsos MORI.
The survey that saw a half a million responses, also explores how COVID-19 has impacted the perceptions and experiences of parents and carers of the under-fives.
Giving a sneak peek of the big findings, Palace released a short clip of the Duchess of Cambridge. The survey findings are a milestone moment for The Duchess of Cambridge’s work on the importance of early childhood in shaping the rest of lives and broader societal outcomes. The survey findings were as below:
From Royal Foundations’s briefings,
The publication of this research follows nine years of work by The Duchess of Cambridge in which she has looked at how difficult experiences in early childhood are often the root cause of key social challenges such as poor mental health, family breakdown, addiction and homelessness. Results revealed growing isolation and loneliness among parents particularly in deprived areas. Experts say failure to spot serious problems before the age of six can lead to homelessness, poor mental health, family breakdown and addiction — costing the UK £17billion in later life per year in England and Wales.
Throughout this time, The Duchess has listened extensively to the early years sector, convening a steering group of experts in 2018 to look at how collaborative work could bring about positive change. In January, Her Royal Highness asked the general public for their views – sparking a national conversation on the early years through the ‘5 Big Questions on the Under Fives’ survey, which attracted over half a million responses, making it the biggest ever survey of its kind.
The landmark survey was launched in January this year. The findings of the survey provide an unrivalled insight into public attitudes on the topic and as well as informing The Duchess’ work in this area, it will also be a vital source of information for the early years sector, helping to improve understanding of public perceptions of the importance of the early years, and the first-hand experiences of parents, families and carers.
From Daily Mail’s report,
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, who has worked closely with her, said it was ‘vital’ that those in power recognised her survey’s findings. ‘We know that the first five years of a child’s life are absolutely critical for a child’s long-term life chances, and yet all too often, education and learning is seen as something that begins at the school gates,’ he said.
‘At a time when many parents of young children have been cut off from their normal sources of help, and can only seek limited support from family and friends, it is vital that the Government recognises the value of the early years and ensures that the vital services that provide such important support to parents and families across the country are able to continue to do so.’
The Survey results is being widely accepted by the people from all walks of the life. The Duchess of Cambridge’s work is a crucial turning point and its heart-warming to see people acknowledging it’s importance. Contiuing from the Daily Mail’s report,
In response to the report, Children’s Minister Vicky Ford said: ‘Early education is a crucial building block to set a child up for life and I welcome the Duchess of Cambridge’s focus on this important issue. ‘I am enormously proud that since 2013 the proportion of children achieving a good level of development at the end of Reception year has gone from one in two to nearly three quarters of children. But we are determined to improve outcomes even further, especially for the most disadvantaged children, which is why we are reforming the Early Years Foundation Stage and investing in projects to boost early language skills.’
Tulip Siddiq MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Children and Early Years, welcomed the findings, saying: ‘The early years of a child’s life are absolutely critical for their social, educational and physical development, yet far too often the services that support young children are not given the priority they deserve. The coronavirus crisis poses an existential threat to the early years sector and the essential education it provides to so many. ‘This important intervention from the Duchess of Cambridge is a reminder to us all about what is at stake when decisions are made about early years support, and I hope the Government is listening.’
Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said: ‘This report is crucial in showcasing the importance of early years for children’s development, their lifelong learning and therefore their life chances. ‘The results from the survey are clear that parents do not always recognise the very real impact that early education, both within the family and through formal childcare settings, has on their children’s development.
Catherine will be using the key findings of the survey in an ambitious project to help elevate the importance of early childhood that will be announced next year. Tomorrow, The Duchess of Cambridge is set to give a keynote speech at the Online Forum hosted by the Royal Foundation. She will be joined by Dr Xand van Tulleken, Kelly Beaver, Dr Guddi Singh, Jon Rouse CBE and Dr Trudi Seneviratne OBE. The Duchess of Cambridge will say,
Over the last decade I have met people from all walks of life. I have seen that experiences such as homelessness, addiction and poor mental health are often grounded in a difficult childhood.
But I have also seen how positive protective factors in the early years can play a crucial role in shaping our futures. The early years are not simply about how we raise our children. They are, in fact, about how we raise the next generation of adults. They are about the society we will become.
The Royal Foundation also released the Executive Summary and Full report that is available on its website. The Executive Summary concludes three key themes that emerged from the Research:
- The importance of promoting education and dissemination of evidence on the primacy of the early years to parents, parents of the future and the whole of society.
- The need to cultivate and sustain more support networks for parents to enhance their mental health and wellbeing.
- Encouraging society as a whole is more supportive of parents, carers and families in the early years.
In the pictures released today, The Duchess of Cambridge was wearing her white Zara Tailored Blazer that in September 2016 for a day in Victoria during Canada Tour.
Crafted from textured fabric with a touch of elastane, the $129 jacket was from label’s 2015 collection. The chic blazer features two slanted front flap pockets, a welt pocket at the chest, a single button closure, triple buttons at the cuff and a centre back vent. It was an unlined blazer and middle button on cuff had grey stitching. The label offers similar jackets almost every season. Catherine again wore the blazer in May 2017 during a sailing roadshow.
Catherine paired the blazer with a black UFO top and Black UFO Trouser. She was wearing her Daniella Draper Mini Cupid Hoops but this without charms.
For the video, The Duchess of Cambridge was wearing her Reiss Trina Dress that is Catherine’s pre-wedding wardrobe element.
Coming from label’s 2008 collection, the dress was worn by The Duchess in March 2012 at the formal opening of the EACH Treehouse centre, the day when The Duchess gave her very first public speech.
The agenda of the Royal Forum is as below. You will need to register at the Early year’s Forum to view the live stream that will begin at 1 PM BST.
1 thought on “The Duchess of Cambridge revealed ‘5 Big Insights’”
Comments are closed.