MPs slam government over rejection of early intervention strategy

MPs have criticised the government for failing to put in place a national early intervention strategy to help prevent adversity and trauma among children. The introduction of a national strategy is a central recommendation of the Commons science and technology committee report on evidence-based early years intervention, which was released last October. This highlighted strong links between childhood trauma and problems in later life, including health issues, lower job prospects and increased likelihood of being involved in crime. A failure to intervene earlier in children’s lives to prevent adverse and traumatic experiences is costing the government an extra £16.6bn a year in England and Wales, the committee found. But in its response to the report the government has rejected setting up a national strategy and instead wants decisions around early intervention to be made locally. Read more.