As you are very much aware, the first 1,000 days of a child's life are the most important, but this has been incredibly challenging during lockdown. 30% of pre-school children do not attend formal childcare (currently the only setting where social distancing has been relaxed for children) and a study of parents of children under two showed 48% felt their child had become clingier since lockdown. Under 11s in Wales and Scotland no longer need to socially distance, but this has not been relaxed in England. The government do not seem in any rush to change this, meaning there is still large confusion over how baby and toddler groups can restart, how stay-at-home parents can get support, and when grandparents will be able to hug their grandchildren again.

Please would you join with me by supporting this petition I have started so that the government will hear loud and clear that we will not stand by while our children suffer: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/549934