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This week, the Department for Education launched the government’s plans for reforming early years support, Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life. In a strategy reminiscent of the launch of Sure Start by the previous Labour government over two decades ago, Education Secretary Bridget Philipson announced plans which, if delivered and funded effectively, should have a transformational, long-lasting positive impact on children in their early years.

Last week the Chancellor shared the outcome of Phase Two of the Spending Review, which set planned day-to-day spending totals for all government departments for the rest of this parliament. We at the Centre for Young Lives welcome the extra investment in children’s social care, housing, the NHS, as well as commitments to expand the family hubs programme and a Schools White Paper in the Autumn, all of which have the potential to improve the lives of children, young people and their families.

Over 1,200 leaders - ranging from GPs and health workers and headteachers to experts in the built environment, creative industries, physical activity and sports, and the early years, charity leaders, academics, and local government leaders - have joined the Raising the Nation Play Commission’s call for a new National Play Strategy for England.

New analysis published by the Centre for Young Lives estimates that for every £1 invested in youth provision- including youth centres, youth workers, and positive activities for young people to do - there would be a return of at least £2.40 in financial, economic, and social benefits.

The Centre for Young Lives think tank publishes a new report, “Growing Up Well: Ambitious for the future of Children and Young People’s Mental Health Support”, which provides a deep dive into spending on and strategies for children and young people’s mental health services in local areas across England. 

A new report published by the Centre for Young Lives think tank, draws on new Freedom of Information data from councils in England to reveal the current provision of children’s centres and Family Hubs, both crucial tools in the Government’s mission to widen opportunity and boost school readiness.

Report urges ‘Britain’s kids have got talent’ drive in schools to boost opportunity and stop the pipeline of pop stars, actors and creatives becoming the preserve of the well-off

The Raising the Nation Play Commission, a year-long independent inquiry into why play is critical to the wellbeing of children in England, publishes its Interim Report, ‘State of Play’. The Commission was launched in June 2024 by its chair, entrepreneur and campaigner Paul Lindley OBE - founder of Ella’s Kitchen, the UK’s biggest baby food business. It is working in partnership with former Children’s Commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield’s Centre for Young Lives think tank.

The Centre for Young Lives- commissioned by The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) and NCS Trust (National Citizen Service) - has today (Tuesday February 18th) published a new report, ‘Beyond the classroom: the role of enrichment in tackling the school absence crisis’. 

New research warns that the mental health crisis facing children and young people will prevent the Government from its mission of boosting economic growth and productivity as well as impacting the lives of thousands of young people. The research estimates that the long-term impact of mental health problems in childhood now costs the UK over £1 trillion in lifetime lost earnings. 

Paul reflects on the first 6 months of the Raising the Nation Play Commision

This week we celebrate the first anniversary of the Centre for Young Lives. We’ve come a long way, very quickly, and we’ve never been more convinced that founding the Centre was the right decision. 

We are delighted to be working with Mission 44 on the Ambitious about inclusion roadshows.

The Centre for Young Lives welcomes the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill as a positive and important step towards improving the safeguarding of vulnerable children and boosting their life chances. It addresses issues we have been very concerned about over many years, including vulnerable children falling through the gaps and into danger.

The Centre for Young Lives wants to see the health and wellbeing of children and young people at the heart of the NHS 10-year plan. Taking care of the health of children is crucial to making sure we have a fit and healthy adult population – yet children’s health needs after often an add on or afterthought rather than a priority. We are calling for a once-in-a-generation rebalance to prioritise children’s health.

The Centre for Young Lives welcomes the Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review. This is our submission. It reflects our view that significant change is needed to improve the system so that it provides an excellent education to all children.

Anne Longfield, Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives think tank, is today (Tuesday December 3rd) publishing a new report, ‘Too Skint for School’, examining the link between poverty and school attendance. 

"I am very pleased to see this Government set out a clear direction of travel that begins to address that and which chimes with many of the arguments I have been making over many years. "

A new report published by Child of the North and Anne Longfield’s Centre for Young Lives think tank puts forward new recommendations to tackle the school absence crisis.

NCS Trust (National Citizen Service), The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) and the Centre for Young Lives (CfYL) have partnered to explore the evidence linking participation in enrichment activities to improved academic attendance, amidst a rise in persistent absenteeism among young people.

A new report published by Child of the North and Anne Longfield’s Centre for Young Lives think tank, makes a series of proposals to tackle the high number of children starting school not ‘school ready’, and the crisis in early years and childcare provision - particularly in disadvantaged areas.

Ignore ‘Nanny State’ critics and expand sugar taxes, ban sale of energy drinks to under 16s, and roll out national supervised toothbrushing programme in schools to tackle the crisis of tooth decay affecting millions of children – Child of the North/Centre for Young Lives report

The five charities: Centre for Young Lives, the Child Poverty Action Group, Save the Children UK, Just for Kids Law and the Children’s Rights Alliance for England (known together as the Children’s Rights Organisations or CROs) have been selected as Core Participants for their expertise in children’s rights, inequalities and discrimination.