Kate launches new campaign about importance of early childhood?

[AllOutofEverything]

I have been reading about how Kate is launching a new awareness raising campaign about the importance of early childhood.
I had thought she launched this years ago and since then we have had the survey with the 5 big questions, her visits to nurseries, and her meetings with Early Years experts. I can't see how this is any different from what was announced in the past?

There's a definite repetition going on with the "criticism". Same phrasing and wording repeated over and over. And you're correct - it's been noted by a few journalists.

We know the RF cannot get political, and we know why.

It just seems regardless of what Catherine does, she has to be criticised, diminished and demeaned to try and make another woman look better.

Neither woman deserves this.

Honestly people criticise because the issues are bloody obvious.

And some of you were claiming similarly that it was all paid bots when people were criticising that Caribbean tour.

'Honestly people criticise because the issues are bloody obvious.'

Plenty of people who've met Kate and William in the course of their duties say how engaged, interested, well informed, friendly and cheerful they are. But don't let that get in the way of your prejudices.

Or, it could be that the 'criticism' is perhaps justified?

I'm an Early years professional and have worked in this sector for 14 years. I help train teachers and contribute to academic research on children's communication and language skills and how they define outcomes at various summative points and beyond into adulthood.

So I'm not a bot or some deranged Harry fan or whatever.

But I do think this campaign is rubbish. Why?

Because it is completely and utterly unsubstantive. Early Years needs money. With money, comes action and with action comes impact. That's what creates better outcomes for children. But that's political and Kate isn't going to go anywhere near that.

Showing us all a fancy cartoon and telling us to be nice to the children just isn't enough.

I'll say it again for emphasis:

Sure Start
Proper remuneration and recognition for early years professionals so that they don't leave the sector to go and work in Costa to earn more money
Funding
The list goes on but it all boils down to cash.

You're right but in my lifetime I have never seen anyone of the stature of the POW highlighting the importance of early years development. And I'm old.

It was a very big thing under Blair and there were loads of articles about it.

Blair's NHS destroyed the SALT service with his US policies. It was all packages and outcomes. Before him I used to see patients until they got better.

Right, maybe because having a public figurehead ispointless?

I'd much rather have a compassionate government informed by professionals in the field and prepared to invest in our nation's most precious resource, than an unsubstantive celebrity awareness campaign.

I might be wrong - this might really ignite the public and the government may feel forced to act. But the parents and families of the UK are already furious; schools are running on fumes, there is a teacher retention crisis, child mental health and SaLt support waiting lists are months long, children's dentistry is woeful and millions of kids are cold and hungry.

So far, that collective fury hasn't translated into any actual solutions. Just thousands of childcare settings shut down and picket lines of teachers.

If Kate can get things moving on this, then good for her. I just don't think it will work in its current form.

A royal correspondent has tweeted that they wish she'd do something more gritty. I agree. What is this early years thing actually going to achieve?

'I'd much rather have a compassionate government informed by professionals in the field and prepared to invest in our nation's most precious resource'

But at the moment we don't have that.

Have you looked at the individuals involved in the campaign? There are some people of real stature. It's being talked about on here and elsewhere

Instead of being so dismissive, maybe if people supported the campaign it may just make a difference.

There will be a Labour government soon but there's no money.

Yeah let's criticise someone for doing something 🙄

You won't get money without publicity she is good publicity

But sure criticise her....maybe hold a cake sale or something

'more gritty'

Like what? Gluing herself to a railway carriage for climate change? Early years might not be 'gritty' (whatever that means) but surely it's worthwhile.

'What is this early years thing actually going to achieve?'

Maybe, if people actually supported it rather than carping, it might achieve much.

Totally agree

So what is it aiming to achieve?

I wonder if they meant 'gritty' as in more substantive or specific, or with a task that has measurable impact.

She has certainly arranged an extraordinary array of expertise and for this she should be applauded.

Maybe the campaign is yet to properly unfold and there is something still to come.

I am so willing to be proved wrong on everything I've said above.

What else is coming from this campaign? Will there be a report of findings? Recommendations for government, schools, parents? Will there be help or advice for families with children with special needs, or who are homeless? Will there be any funding at all? This all feels rather flimsy.

You can Google this. She's working with a foundation. They have benchmarked awareness of the importance of early years and will continue to measure this to track the success of their work.

@AllOutofEverything it’s a direct quote from the website - www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/duchess-of-cambridge-thp/zbvcydm

A raising of the awareness of how crucial early years is to child development. Most people doesn't get it.

Most people doesn't get it.
They really don't

What difference does it make if more people are able to say early years are important?

We do get it, but what exactly does she expect to happen?
We've already got NCT, toddler groups, nurseries, childminders, health visitors, midwives, libraries for books and bookbug etc, cbeebies, social workers, doctors, primary teachers, police etc - all those things either on offer or people doing their best to look out for kids who need the help.
If she was more vocal on things like the impact of school strikes, lack of funding, resources etc, rather than just a generic 'kids are so important', she might get more interest, but of course that's getting too political.

@derxa There are early years experts on this thread who think the campaign is a waste of time.

Any decent campaign you should be able to say what it is trying to achieve. Measurements are one thing, what is the projected outcome though?