LOCAL family support charity, Home-Start Winchester has said that investment in early years education should be central to the Government’s ‘levelling-up’ agenda.

The charity was responding to a Government Review into improving the health and development outcomes of babies and young children.

Senior co-ordinator Liz Stannard said: “This review acknowledges that the time from conception to the age of two is critical for development and can impact physical and mental health throughout life.

“The acknowledgement that these years should be a priority for Government is extremely welcome. Investment in the early years is crucial to any ‘levelling up’ agenda. It is imperative that children from all backgrounds are given a secure start in life in order to prevent a range of intractable and expensive problems in later years.

"But this work cannot be left to charities and their volunteers, extremely important though these are."