
The 1001 Critical Days Podcast with Andrea Leadsom MP
By Andrea Leadsom MP

The 1001 Critical Days Podcast with Andrea Leadsom MPDec 01, 2021

Episode 24: Miriam Cates MP
My parliamentary colleague Miriam Cates has been part of the Early Years Healthy Development Review since the very beginning. In this episode we discuss its progress and the difference that Family Hubs will make in local communities

Episode 23: Elliott Rae, speaker, author and founder of Music Football Fatherhood
Elliott Rae has a fabulous blog, Music Football Fatherhood that champions the role of Dads, providing advice and practical support. It was a real joy to speak to him for this episode of the 1001 Critical Days podcast!
Elliott's blog: https://linktr.ee/musicfootballfatherhood

Episode 22: Alison Morton, Institute of Health Visiting
The Institute of Health Visiting has been a great support for the Early Years Healthy Development Review. In this episode, I speak to their Director Alison Morton about their work and the important role that health visitors play in ensuring that every baby gets the best #StartforLife.

Episode 21: Peter Fonagy, CEO of the Anna Freud Centre
Peter Fonagy, CEO of the Anna Freud Centre is a committed supporter of the best start for life. In this episode he shares why the work of the Early Years Healthy Development Review is so profoundly important in building emotional well-being.

Episode 20: Nickie Aiken MP
Nickie Aiken MP is a fantastic supporter of the Best #StartforLife from her days as a London council leader. In this episode she shares why she is committed to improving the early years and how working cross party is making a difference.

Episode 19: Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner
In this latest episode of the 1001 Critical Days podcast, Andrea talks to Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner about her role in improving the early years and how she thinks the recent Spending Review settlement will make a difference for early years support and services for families across England.

Episode 18: Sarah Olney MP and Catherine McKinnell MP
In this episode, Andrea talks to Sarah Olney MP and Catherine McKinnell MP about their cross-party work on the early years to ensure that every baby gets the best start for life.

Episode 17: Alison Baum, CEO and Founder, Best Beginnings
In this episode, Andrea talks to Alison Baum, CEO and Founder of Best Beginnings about the support they provide parents and carers through their Baby Buddy app and the role of virtual and face to face services.

Episode 16: Joanne Thomas, Health Visitor and Midwife
In this episode, Andrea Leadsom chats to Joanne Thomas, a health visitor and midwife about her experience of working during the pandemic and the role of physical and digital services and support for families.

Episode 15: Tim Loughton MP
In this episode of the 1001 Critical Days podcast, Andrea speaks with her parliamentary colleague and fellow early years champion, Tim Loughton MP about their work on the Early Years Healthy Development Review as well as reacting to the announcement of extensive funding for the Start for Life vision in the Spending Review.

Episode 14: George Hosking, Wave Trust
Andrea Leadsom speaks to George Hosking of the Wave Trust about the science behind early intervention, secure attachment and how the earliest experiences in a baby's life have a profound impact on their future.

Episode 13: Matt Buttery, Chief Executive Officer, Triple P
Andrea Leadsom talks to Matt Buttery, Chief Executive Officer at Triple P about the work of the Early Years Healthy Development Review and why early intervention - and investment is so vital to give every baby the best start for life.

Episode 12: Saqib Bhatti MP
Andrea Leadsom talks to fellow MP Saqib Bhatti about becoming a new Dad and what the Early Years Healthy Development Review means to him.

Episode 11: Siobhan Baillie MP
Andrea Leadsom talks to fellow MP Siobhan Baillie about her experience of having her first baby, Gigi, during lockdown as well their work together on the cross party Parliamentary Advisory Group as part of the Early Years Healthy Development Review.

Episode 10: Imran Hussain, Director of Policy and Campaigns, Action for Children
In this episode of the 1001 Critical Days podcast, Andrea Leadsom speaks with Imran Hussain, Director of Policy and Campaigns at Action for Children about their role supporting the Early Years Healthy Development Review and how he thinks it will transform early years support and services across England.

Episode 9: Professor Viv Bennett, Chief Nurse
In this episode, Andrea speaks to Professor Viv Bennett, Chief Nurse about her work to ensure that every baby gets the best start for life.

Episode 8: Cristina Odone, Head of Family Policy, Centre for Social Justice
In this episode Andrea speaks to Cristina Odone, Head of Family Policy for the Centre for Social Justice.

Episode 7: Lord David Blunkett
Andrea Leadsom talks to Lord David Blunkett about their shared passion of the early years and why local and national leadership is important to ensure that every baby gets the best start for life.

Episode 6: Vicky, parent sharing her experience of lockdown
Andrea Leadsom talks to Vicky, a parent from Devon who has worked with the Early Years Healthy Development Review to share her experiences of lockdown and how early years services and support can be improved.

Episode 5: Andrea and her Mum, Judy
Andrea Leadsom talks to her Mum, Judy about her experience as a midwife, trauma therapist and they share anecdotes about their shared passion for ensuring that every baby gets the best start for life.

Episode 4: Best Beginnings with Agnes Ageypong and Yasmin, a new Mum
Andrea Leadsom talks to Agnes Ageypong, Head of Engagement at Best Beginnings and Yasmin, who became a Mum during lockdown about the importance of virtual and face to face services, and how the views and feedback of parents are feeding into the Early Years Healthy Development Review.

Episode 3: Penny Mordaunt MP, Paymaster General
Andrea Leadsom talks to Penny Mordaunt MP, Paymaster General and one of the Early Years Healthy Development Review's sponsoring ministers about the work of the review, the importance of working with the devolved nations and why investing in the very earliest period of life saves money further down the line.
This episode was recorded whilst Matt Hancock MP was the Secretary of State for Health.

Episode 2: Robin Balbernie, the science of brain development
Andrea Leadsom talks to Robin Balbernie about the science of brain development.

Episode 1: Mario and Amy: Parents during lockdown
Mario and Amy share their experience of becoming parents to twins during lockdown.

1001 Critical Days Podcast with Andrea Leadsom Trailer
Did you know that the 1001 days of a baby’s life helps to shape their future? I’m Andrea Leadsom, and ensuring that every baby gets the best start for life has been my passion for over 20 years.
I’ve held many Government positions, and most recently, I have been chairing the Early Years Healthy Development Review on behalf of the Prime Minister. Its report launched earlier this year, and we are now in the implementation phase, putting into practice 6 action areas that will help improve early years support and services for parents and babies.
This 1001 Critical Days podcast will feature those who have been part of this journey. From parents to politicians, practitioners to academics, in each episode we will be exploring every aspect of the early years and discussing how we can ensure that every baby gets the best start for life.
If you’d like to get involved, perhaps in a future episode or to share your thoughts please reach out on email Andrea.leadsom.mp@parliament.uk