Early moments matter: tackling inequality in early childhood
The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK)
A child’s earliest years shape their whole life. UNICEF calls on the governments to address early childhood inequality to ensure every child has a fair start in life
Dr Philip Goodwin, Chief Executive Officer, The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK)
Evidence shows that for children, early moments matter. A child’s first months and years shape their whole life, with inequalities during the early years impacting a whole host of future outcomes, from their mental and physical health to attainment and earning potential. However, years of rising costs and declining support and services have left families with young children across the UK in crisis.
Every day, the two-child limit is pushing an additional 109 children into poverty.1 The policy disproportionately affects families with young children, as recent government data shows that 68 per cent of the families affected have a child under five.2
68% of families affected by the two-child limit have a child under 5
What the UK government needs to do
An immediate end to the two-child limit and benefit cap is a critical first step and the most effective way to reduce child poverty. It would lift 400,000 children out of poverty immediately, while improving the living standards of over a million more children.3
Increase investment in early childhood support services to mitigate the impacts of poverty. This must include restoring investment in children’s health services, including in health visiting, to ensure all young families have access to support and advice when they need it most, and expanding the 30 hours of government funded childcare to all families, regardless of employment or asylum status.
To find out more about the campaign, either in Westminster or at the Labour party conference, please contact Lauren Pizzey, Senior Political Affairs Adviser, at [email protected]
References
1. CPAG; New costings: scrapping two-child limit is ‘by far’ most cost-effective way to cut child poverty
2. Gov.uk; https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-creditclaimants-statistics-on-the-two-child-limit-policy-april-2025/universalcredit-claimants-statistics-on-the-two-child-limit-policy-april-2025
3. Ibid
