Press Story

Poor childhood health starting at pregnancy, as 32 per cent of parents don’t attend antenatal classes
Families are being ‘left to fend for themselves’ as NHS struggles to support parents, says new report
IPPR calls for universal access to parenting education, before and after birth

Families across England are being left to shoulder growing responsibility for their children’s health as the NHS struggles to cope – often without the preparation, support or trusted advice they need, according to a major new report from IPPR.

The report says the dual crises of mental health and obesity issues among children have been allowed to flourish as parents have been left at the behest of patchy NHS services that are hard to access.

A survey of over 1,500 parents found that:

One in three (32 per cent) never attended an antenatal class
One third (31 per cent) do not feel prepared to look after their children’s health
One in five (19 per cent) find it difficult to access professional help for their child’s health when they need it

The least financially comfortable parents faced particular challenges, as the most well off can buy their way to better outcomes, while the poorest face the greatest barriers to support.

For example, 81 per cent of the most financially comfortable parents say they can easily access professional help for their child, compared to just 37 per cent of the least financially secure.

When parents do access care, many describe the experience as rushed or judgmental – leaving them feeling unsupported in navigating the realities of parenthood. As waiting times grow, families say they are increasingly turning to private care, DIY solutions or simply hoping problems resolve on their own.

Inconsistent or insufficient advice is pushing many parents to online spaces. The vast majority (85 per cent) told IPPR they “learn as they go”, often piecing together advice from the internet and risking misinformation, overload and anxiety.

IPPR argues that children’s health has stalled because successive governments have been reluctant to talk about parenting – wary of appearing to interfere or blame families.

Parents feel both highly responsible and highly capable of shaping their child’s health. At the same time, parents say they cannot do it alone. IPPR says ministers must stand alongside parents – taking bolder, clearer action on the forces only government can confront. The think tank recommends:

Universal parenting education before and for a year after birth, delivered on an opt-out basis
Government action to make healthy choices the easy choice – improving healthy food affordability, closing junk-food marketing loopholes, tackling tech harms and expanding free offline activities
More proactive, easy-to-find community support, reaching parents early, connecting families with one another and offering practical help while they wait for specialist care

Amy Gandon, associate fellow at IPPR and former senior official on children’s health:

“Families are being left to fend for themselves as the NHS is struggling to support parents. Successive governments have shied away from engaging directly with parents - but in reality they are – and will always be - the backbone of children’s healthcare. If we want a more preventative, community-based NHS, we must start by backing parents with the support, guidance and environment they need to keep their children healthy.”

Sebastian Rees, head of health at IPPR:

“Too many parents feel unprepared when it comes to keeping their children healthy. Families shouldn’t have to piece together advice online or pay privately to get the support they need. We need a system that supports parents from the start, not one that leaves them to go it alone. Only then will we lay the foundations for building the healthiest generation of children ever.”

ENDS

Amy Gandon and Seb Rees are available for interview

CONTACT

Liam Evans, head of news and media: 07419 365 334 l.evans@ippr.org

Rosie Okumbe, digital and media officer: 07825 185421 r.okumbe@ippr.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

Advance copies of the report are available under embargo on request
Public First carried out a large-scale, nationally representative survey for IPPR of 1,523 parents across the England from 19 September to 26 September 2025. All results were weighted using Iterative Proportional Fitting, or ‘Ranking’. Public First is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
IPPR (the Institute for Public Policy Research) is the UK’s most influential think tank, with alumni in Downing Street, the cabinet and parliament. We are the practical ideas factory behind many of the current government’s flagship policies, including changes to fiscal rules, the creation of a National Wealth Fund, GB Energy, devolution, and reforms to the NHS. As an independent charity working towards a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society, we have spent almost 40 years creating tangible progressive change - turning bold ideas into common sense realities. www.ippr.org