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The Early Years Alliance has commented in response to research commissioned by the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which found that only 17% of the general public recognise the unique importance of the 0 – 5 period of a child's life relative to other age brackets.

The Royal Foundation was launched by Duchess of Cambridge in June 2021.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

"It's disappointing, but sadly not at all surprising, that less than a fifth of the general public are aware of the unique importance of the first five years of a child's life.

"Despite a wealth of research showing how critical the early years are to children's long-term development, all too often discussions about this critical stage of life are focused on the provision of childcare and the need for children to be 'looked after' while their parents work, rather than the provision of quality early education that effectively supports early learning.

"Given the profile of the Royal Foundation and the ongoing work of the Duchess of Cambridge on this important issue, we warmly welcome her call for greater investment in the adults who support children in their earliest years, including the early years workforce.

"At a time when government policy threatens to undermine and devalue the work of our vital sector, we hope that these findings give ministers real pause for thought."