Overview

Miller Research was commissioned by the Welsh Government to examine how well existing early years policies and programmes in Wales are meeting the needs of children and families in a post-pandemic context. The study explored the medium-term impacts of COVID-19 on early childhood development and considered whether current policy approaches remain fit for purpose following widespread disruption to services and support.

Methodology

The research adopted a mixed-methods design delivered in two stages. Stage 1 involved in-depth qualitative interviews with 17 academics and researchers from universities and institutions across Wales and England, with expertise in child development, mental health, and speech, language and communication.

Stage 2 focused on practitioner perspectives and included eight virtual focus groups with 76 early years professionals, followed by an online survey completed by 178 practitioners from across Wales. This was complemented by a desk-based review of relevant national and international evidence.

Focus of the Study

The research examined the impacts of the pandemic across key thematic areas, including:

• Child and holistic development

• Speech, language and communication

• Child mental health and wellbeing

• Parenting, parental mental health and home learning

• Multi-agency working and early intervention

The study also gathered practitioner feedback on the suitability of major Welsh Government early years policies and programmes post-pandemic, including Flying Start, Families First, the Early Years Integration Transformation Programme, the Healthy Child Wales Programme, Parenting. Give it time, Talk With Me, the ALN system, and the Curriculum for Wales.

Key Findings

The research found that the pandemic largely exacerbated existing inequalities rather than creating entirely new challenges, with increased concerns around children’s mental health, speech and language development, and social skills. Practitioners emphasised the importance of play-based and holistic approaches to supporting children’s recovery, alongside the need for improved workforce capacity, training, and multi-agency collaboration.

While most existing programmes were viewed as broadly effective, the findings highlighted opportunities to refine delivery models, strengthen integration across services, and ensure policies are responsive to changing levels of need in a post-pandemic landscape.

Outputs

The study provides evidence-based insights to support Welsh Government in shaping future early years policy, with clear thematic and programme-specific considerations informed directly by academic expertise and frontline practitioner experience.

Read the full report:
https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/statistics-and-research/2024-03/early-years-policies-wales-and-post-pandemic-future-mixed-methods-research-study.pdf