Policy digest: Ages and Stages Questionnaire

From 2015, data from the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) will be used as part of the Healthy Child Programme's two-year review to collect public health data on children aged between two and 2.5 years old. The Healthy Child Programme is a key component of the DH's 'Giving every child a healthy start' policy. This policy is based on the idea that the health of a child before they are born and during their early years, can have an effect on their health in later life. The use of the ASQ-3 is intended to measure the health outcomes and opportunities of toddlers as part of this policy. Other aspects of the policy are strengthening the health visiting service, launching immunisation campaigns, and supporting parents with mental health conditions to care for their children.