This webinar explored why the earliest years of life are critical for lifelong health, wellbeing, and opportunity. Drawing on evidence and voices from across Wales, it highlighted how early experiences shape brain development, emotional resilience, and learning—laying either strong or fragile foundations. The session examined how poverty undermines these foundations through chronic stress, limited access to nutrition, reduced opportunities for play, and pressure on essential early years services.

Participants were introduced to Wales’s emerging framework, The Best Start in Life: An Early Years Framework for Action, designed to strengthen policy, practice, and system coordination. The webinar used stories of how the framework can work in practice and improve the outcomes for our babies and children, enabling every child in Wales to grow up safe, supported and ready to thrive.

Learning Outcomes

• To obtain an understanding of the best start in life
• To increase awareness of why a strong start matters
• To raise awareness of impacts of poverty on early child development
• To raise awareness of Early Years Framework for Action
• To raise awareness of the components within the framework and how they work in practice