Dr Eunice Lumsden is appointed to government early years health review panel

A University of Northampton academic will use her expertise and research about ensuring the health and wellbeing of young children to inform a government level review.

Dr Eunice Lumsden – Head of Early Years – is part of the expert panel helping to inform the Early Years Healthy Development Review.

The review is led by the government’s Early Years Health Adviser advisor, Rt Hon. Andrea Leadsom MP. It is tasked with improving health and development outcomes of babies and young children in England, ensuring every child is given the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background, and achieve their full potential.

To help shape the review, consultation responses from new parents, health service professionals, charities, volunteer groups and University staff and students can be submitted until 16 October.

Dr Lumsden joined the University of Northampton in 2002, following a 20-year career in social work. She was appointed Head of Early Years in 2014 and in August this year was awarded the prestigious title of Associate Professor.

Her doctoral research was into the development of a new professional role and status in the Early Years in England, Early Years Professional Status. This led to her appointment as an external adviser to the Department for Education on the standards for Early Years Professional Status and Early Years Teacher Status.

Currently, she is also a member of the Education and Childcare Route Panel for the Institute of Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

Eunice has also contributed to a number of research projects and has a special interest in Early Years professional development, child maltreatment, adoption and poverty.

Dr Lumsden said: “It is a privilege to work with my esteemed colleagues on this review. Research clearly highlights how health and social inequalities impact across the life course. There is a huge drive and will to make sure this research and practice wisdom shape a different future for our infants born now.

“It is vital that this review hears the voice of all, parents, carers, practitioners and professional groups.  It Is only through the strength of our collective voices that we will be able to drive change.”

Early Years Healthy Development Adviser, Andrea Leadsom MP, said: “As well as helping the review to shape the services needed by new babies and their parents, this questionnaire will help to gather experiences of parents who had a baby during the coronavirus lockdown. This will help us to understand the many challenges faced, as well as to learn what worked well and what new innovations we can build on.

“The findings of this questionnaire will help the review to shape our recommendations and to promote the best start in life for every baby.”

Find out more about Dr Eunice Lumsden and her research and published work.