As Nick Clegg bangs the social mobility drum today at the Sutton Trust announcing social trackers to measure fairness in society, we welcome his re-affirmation that social mobility matters. At Family Action our work with disadvantaged and vulnerable families, means that every day our workers witness the fundamental unfairness of some children’s circumstances.

The pupil premium and the extension of Sure Start to two–year olds are important policy wins. But Family Action is concerned that the Coalition is missing the boat by not focusing enough on babyhood and the first steps in early intervention. A wealth of neuroscientific and Millenium Cohort research shows that the real obstacles to social mobility begin in babyhood – relying on education will mean intervention will simply reach some children too late.

Graham Allen and Frank Field’s reports on early intervention and life chances have highlighted that the perinatal period – before and after the birth of a baby – is a key time in a child’s development. Both call on Government to start safeguarding vulnerable children’s futures before they are even born.

Postnatal and antenatal (known jointly as perinatal) depression have a huge impact on children’s development. Children exposed to maternal depression in the first year of life are more likely to have behavioural problems, delayed cognition and poor language development long before their first day of school. Add cuts to welfare and poor quality housing to the mix and you have a whole section of children born into predominantly low-income families whose circumstances at birth dictate their life chances.

Family Action’s new Against All Odds: Mind the Gap report highlights the gaps in provision for expectant and new mothers experiencing depression; there are services out there for mothers with severe and enduring mental health difficulties but our concern is for mothers whose depression is perhaps not as severe but no less damaging to the mother-child relationship and their child’s future. The Family Nurse Partnership and the extension of the health vsitors programme are important initiatives but nurses and health visitors do not have time to give to the sustained emotional support that all depressed mothers need and they cannot provide support with the financial and practical hardship that makes matters worse.

Big society can help plug the gaps. Through our Perinatal Support Service from four locations across England. volunteer ‘befrienders’, supported by a professional Perinatal Co-ordinator work with mums at risk of depression by helping reduce their sense of social isolation, and by supporting them practically and emotionally during pregnancy and up to a year after birth. But sufficient welfare support for this group is also needed.

Social mobility begins at birth. Education is important but catching vulnerable children at birth will transform the lives of at risk groups. That’s why we’re warning the Coalition to Mind the Gap and calling on them to sign up to our campaign to improve the odds for vulnerable families and children.

* Anthony McCaul is the Senior Media and Campaigns Officer for charity Family Action. Family Action has been providing emotional, practical and financial support for disadvantaged and vulnerable families since 1869. You can find out more information about Family Action here.