4Children comment on Marmot social inequality report

Anne Longfield, Chief Executive of 4Children, said:

“4Children welcomes Sir Michael’s call for more to be done to reduce the shocking inequalities in our society that blight the lives of too many children. These figures are a stark reminder of how we as a nation are letting our children down and highlight all too clearly how living in a poor or an affluent area can make a huge and negative difference to what happens in a child’s later life.

“Once again Sir Michael has shown why it is crucial that children and families must be an avowed priority, both nationally and locally, in this time of austerity: nationally, as government makes it welfare reforms and decisions over child benefit; locally, as councils make their budget decisions – especially on crucial services like Sure Start Children’s Centres. The new health and wellbeing boards, which will be in place from next year, will also present a great opportunity to make the fight against childhood inequality a number one priority.

“We know that investing in early child development is the way to overcome inequalities and the upward trend in the progress being made for 5-year-olds shows that investment in sure start and early years over the last 5 years is working. It now needs to be strengthened and extended to make sure all children get the opportunity to overcome disadvantage.”

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