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<p>There is strong evidence that the 1,001 days from pregnancy to the age of two years
old set the foundations for our cognitive, emotional, and physical development. Investing
in this critical period presents a real opportunity to improve outcomes and tackle
health disparities by ensuring that thousands of babies and families have improved
access to quality support and services. The Government is therefore already taking
forward a range of actions in line with recommendations in the report by the First
1001 Days Movement to ensure that every baby gets the best start in life.</p><p>For
example, in March 2021, the Government published <em>The best start for life: a vision
for the 1,001 critical days</em>, a copy of which is attached. This vision sets out
six action areas for improving support for families during the 1,001 critical days
to ensure every baby in England is given the best possible start in life, regardless
of background.</p><p>The Government is also investing approximately £300 million to
improve support for families though the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.
The programme is implementing many elements of the Best Start for Life Vision and
is delivering a step change in outcomes for babies, children and their parents and
carers in 75 local authorities in England, including those with high levels of deprivation.
Many local authorities without funding have also chosen to implement elements of the
vision.</p><p>The programme funding package includes £10 million to enable five local
authorities and their partners to pilot innovative early years workforce models, with
the aim of improving the access, experience and outcomes of babies, children, and
families, and supporting the capacity and job satisfaction of the workforces involved.</p><p>To
support new parents, Statutory Maternity Pay is paid by employers to qualifying employed
women for a maximum of 39 weeks, the first six weeks of which are paid at 90% of the
women’s salary followed by 33 weeks at the lower of either the standard rate or 90%
of the woman’s average weekly earnings. For those who cannot get Statutory Maternity
Pay, Maternity Allowance may be available. This is a benefit paid by the Department
for Work and Pensions to eligible women and is intended for those who cannot get Statutory
Maternity Pay. The standard rate of maternity pay is reviewed annually.</p><p>Paternity
Leave arrangements enable employed fathers and partners, including same sex partners,
who meet the qualifying conditions to take up to two weeks of paid leave within the
first eight weeks following the birth of their child or placement for adoption. The
Government has recently announced changes to make Paternity Leave and Pay more flexible
for working families from April 2024. This includes allowing fathers and partners
to take their leave and pay at any point in the first year after the birth or adoption
of their child.</p><p>A Shared Parental Leave and Pay scheme is also available, giving
working families much more choice and flexibility about who cares for their child
in the first year, and when.</p>
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