Nursery World - Interview with Will Quince on his new role as CEO of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation
https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news/interview-will-quince-former-early-years-minister-on-his-role-at-the-1-001-critical-days-foundation
Will Quince is chief executive of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation. A former early years minister and MP, Quince was appointed as the foundation's first-ever chief executive earlier this year.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW ROLE. WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO IT?
A few things stood out. Firstly, I was drawn by the clarity and seriousness of the foundation's mission: helping every baby to experience the best start in life.
Secondly, I am acutely aware of the wider societal and economic costs of getting this wrong. Too often we intervene late, when challenges are already entrenched. Investing earlier is not only the right thing to do for babies and families, it is also one of the most effective ways to reduce pressure on public services and create long-term social and economic value. That combination of moral and economic imperative is compelling.
Finally, after more than a decade in public service, including roles at the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care, and having worked closely with Dame Andrea Leadsom (founder and chair of the foundation) in the past, I believe I can help the foundation grow its reach, influence and impact. This is also deeply personal for me. Improving life chances for babies is something I care about profoundly, and I am hugely motivated to help turn that ambition into lasting change.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS AN EDUCATION MINISTER AND A HEALTH MINISTER WILL HELP YOU IN YOUR ROLE?
As education minister with responsibility for family hubs and the Start for Life programme, I saw first-hand the importance of universal, open-access support for parents and babies, particularly through trusted, community-based settings. When support is easy to access and well-co-ordinated, it can make a transformative difference to babies' development and family wellbeing.
As a health minister, I also saw the consequences of intervening too late.
I also had the opportunity to engage internationally, learning from other countries and sharing lessons from the UK. That global outlook aligns closely with the foundation's ambition to promote the importance of the first 1,001 days worldwide.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE AS THE FOUNDATION'S CEO?
I am determined to support Dame Andrea and her vision that every parent and carer should be supported to give their baby the best start in life, wherever they live.
I want the foundation to deliver real, measurable impact by building an ambitious and evidence-led grant-giving programme, commissioning pioneering research that strengthens the case for early intervention and working with partners at home and internationally to influence policy and practice. This includes championing the unique importance of the first 1,001 days and advocating for long-term investment in babies as a foundation for lifelong outcomes.
The early years sector is full of expertise, commitment and innovation. I am excited to work with leaders across research, practice and policy to amplify that work and to build a global movement for babies, including through our 1,001 Declaration, which calls on parliamentarians to recognise that every baby deserves the best start in life.
YOU'RE CARRYING OUT RESEARCH INTO THE IMPACT OF SCREEN TIME ON BABIES. WHAT ELSE WILL BE YOUR FOCUS THIS YEAR?
We are currently reviewing more than 200 applications for our charity grant-giving, each represents excellent work being led by the charity sector across the UK. Looking ahead, we're going to be giving our first grants overseas. We will scale our research funding substantially this year. We're working with our academic advisory group to define specific research questions, but you can expect to see more research on the economic case for investing in the 1,001 critical days, cutting-edge science about the development of the gut biome during this time of development, and an exploration of how we can best support parents to give their baby the best start in life.
We will also continue to promote the International Journal of Birth and Parent Education – an excellent sector resource.
Getting to know you…
What's the best advice you've ever received? The best advice I've received is from my grandfather and father. My grandfather taught me that you rarely get a second chance to make a first impression so make the first impression count. My father taught me that it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? This is a tough one! As fun as it would be to fly, I'm not keen on heights so I think the ability to mind read would be an incredible superpower and I can only imagine how helpful it would be when it comes to caring for a baby!
If you could meet any historical figure, who would it be? Although I was in the same room as her a few times, I never got to meet the late HM Queen Elizabeth II. I so admired her lifetime of dedicated service to our country.
What's a cause you feel strongly about? My wife and I lost our son who was stillborn full term in 2014 so I am passionate about reducing stillbirth and neonatal death and improving the bereavement care and support for parents. I worked on this agenda when in parliament and hope to be able to do more in this space in my free time.