Annual report into the health and wellbeing of people in Berkshire by the Director of Public Health 2025

The first 1001 days of life, from conception to age two, shape everything that follows. Brain development, emotional wellbeing, and lifelong health all begin in this critical window.
 

Dr Matthew Pearce's first Director of Public Health Annual Report for West Berkshire puts early childhood front and centre and highlights how early experiences, positive or traumatic, can influence everything from mental health to educational success.
 

But not every child starts life on equal footing. Differences in health outcomes driven by factors like poverty, housing, education, and access to care, can shape a child's trajectory before they even take their first steps.
 

With nearly 10,000 children under five in our district, the report calls for bold, collaborative action to invest in early years services and for everyone to work together to ensure every child, no matter their background, has the chance to thrive.
 

View the report in full here.