1. Introduction
Inequalities in health, cognitive development, and
socio-emotional functioning emerge early in life. Many
subsequent social issues, such as crime, teenage pregnancy,
low education and unemployment can be traced
to an adverse early years’ environment. Limited evidence
suggests that targeted, early intervention programmes
aimed at disadvantaged children and their families are
an effective means of reducing these inequalities. Such
early childhood interventions can partially compensate
for risk factors that compromise children’s most critical