Centre for Young Lives

Northern researchers and Whitehall unite to tackle the SEND crisis through connected data - N8 Research Partnership On the day the government published its Every child achieving and thriving white paper on reforms to the schools and SEND systems in England, policymakers, researchers, clinicians and frontline practi...

Proud to see Child of the North’s evidence shaping national SEND reform. Yesterday's event highlights how connected data can deliver the change children need. With a strong call from our Whitehall colleagues for more collaboration, we look forward to next steps.

#SEND #CotN

Schools White Paper brings an ambitious plan to put inclusion at the heart of education | Centre for Young Lives | Blog

Our head of policy @conniemuttock.bsky.social takes a closer look at today’s White Paper 👇👇

www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...

Very important point. It’s no coincidence that cutting spending on earlier intervention was followed by a rise in spending on crisis. Not just SEN but children’s social care, exclusion and lost learning, serious violence etc. A lost decade and a half of early help, youth provision, family support.

Professor Mark Mon Williams

Baroness Anne Longfield and Haroon Chowdry

Opening the Child of the North Data Showcase with Professor Mark Mon‑Williams, Baroness Anne Longfield CBE and Haroon Chowdry, setting out why SEND and connected data need to be considered together.
 
#CotN #SEND

#Beewell

Peter Day Professor of Children's Oral Health and Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, University of Leeds

Sally Bridges Programme Manager, NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber

Gary Leeming, University of Liverpool

A rich session showcasing data assets from across the North — #BeeWell, Born in Bradford, BaBi and C‑GULL — and how they can inform work on SEND and children’s outcomes.
 
#CotN #SEND

Web links in thread👇🧵

@beewelluk.bsky.social @arc-yharc.bsky.social @livunichil.bsky.social

A presentation on screen in a large conference room reads Child of the North Data Showcase - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and the power of connected data - 23 February 2026. Tables are laid out with notepads, pens and brochures.

How can connected data support better outcomes for children and young people with SEND?

We’re in Manchester to share evidence on what’s possible when services safely link data.

#CotN #SEND

The Government’s White Paper sets out an ambitious, much-needed, and very welcome direction of travel, which – if fulfilled – will transform the life chances of children who have been left behind for far too long.

www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...

The special schools bringing inclusion into the mainstream Ministers want 'a system that works together'. Schools Week meets three schools leading the way

💭 As the sector awaits the long-delayed SEND reforms, many schools have started to work together to create more inclusive environments.

We spoke to three schools leading the way...


https://schoolsweek.co.uk/sharing-not-siloed-the-special-schools-bringing-inclusion-into-the-mainstream/

Children who carry knives to get support earlier in England and Wales David Lammy announces mandatory support and mentoring plan in wake of two stabbings at a school in Brent, north-west London

This is really important and very welcome, and something we have been campaigning for since 2021. It can save lives.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

We’re really excited to be launching our new Young Creatives Commission in partnership with Roundhouse Trust, the iconic London venue and youth charity.

www.youngcreativescommission.org/news/launch-...

Sue Robb made Government's Best Start in Life Champion - Nursery World Early childhood pedagogy expert Sue Robb, who was involved with the introduction of the EYFS in 2008, has been appointed as the Government’s Best Start in Life Champion.

This is excellent news

www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news...

Ministers to crack down on profiteering in care sector and make renewed fostering push Josh MacAlister issues warning as government launches £88m ‘call to arms’ to find homes for 10,000 foster children

The right direction of travel.

www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

Today the Bill to end the two-child limit starts its journey through Parliament.

The policy is responsible for driving child poverty to its current record high, and we are glad it is being abolished.

We join many other organisations to urge all MPs to support this Bill.

Even British teenagers want tighter laws around social media – but let’s make it part of a broader vision for children | Gaby Hinsliff We need an honest reckoning with other factors that threaten young people’s wellbeing, from poverty to academic stress, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff

on the case for getting teens off social media, but actually giving them something in return www.theguardian.com/commentisfre... (& yes, posting this on a site where many of us have voluntarily taken ourselves off another platform that we felt had become unhealthy even for grown adults)

Growing Up Well is a tested blueprint for local systems to deliver earlier, more effective support for children and young people. It has been developed in partnership with the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

Thanks to all who came to our launch with Minister Merron today.

Centre for Young Lives launches new neighbourhood ‘Growing Up Well’ model to transform the system of support to tackle the mental health crisis facing children and young people | Centre for Young Live... The Centre for Young Lives think tank publishes Growing Up Well: A new place-based model to radically improve children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, setting out a new tested blueprin...

When we launched our think tank and delivery unit we promised to be solutions-focused. So today we’re proud to launch our new place-based “Growing Up Well” model to radically improve children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

www.centreforyounglives.org.uk/news-centre/...

Do not always send suspended students home, government tells schools Changes to England's school system say on-site suspensions should be used for non-violent behaviour.

The boom in lost learning since the pandemic needs to be tackled - this sounds like a promising step in the right direction but we await more detail. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Three-quarters of parents concerned about their child’s mental health - Headteacher Update Roadmap urges earlier, school‑based support to tackle rising mental health needs among children and young people

Three-quarters of parents worry about their child’s #mentalhealth. The Future Minds campaign roadmap from @centreformh.bsky.social @cfyounglives.bsky.social @cypmentalhealth.bsky.social & Young Minds calls for earlier intervention & more school‑based support: buff.ly/eGDfefq

The mental health system is failing too many children and young people. Too often, they’re left without support until they hit crisis point – with lasting consequences for their futures and public services. It doesn’t have to be this way. bit.ly/49NXK9q

The Future Minds roadmap shows that with decisive action, the Government can close the treatment gap, improve outcomes for children and young people, and reduce long-term costs to society.

And a new era of prevention: Adopting an approach that embeds wellbeing support in schools, youth services, and families.

Early, localised support reduces the likelihood of crisis, eases pressure on specialist services and improves life chances for young people.

A new digital age of treatment and support: Moving from analogue care by safely harnessing digital tools and AI to widen access, reduce waiting times, and increase productivity…

The roadmap calls for a shift from hospital to community: Stabilising specialist and inpatient services while shifting investment towards earlier, community-based support to cut the cost of crisis …

Why decline in children’s mental health is ‘biggest challenge of our time’ Mental health services are “struggling to keep pace and meet the individual needs of children and young people”, leading charities have warned

Together with our Future Minds partners, today we’ve published a roadmap putting forward concrete solutions to address the mental health concerns and struggles of children, young people, and their families.

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...

🗣️ “Nothing’s changed? Everything’s changed. It’s worse.”

We were privileged to work alongside the Grassroots Poverty Action Group (GPAG) on the foreword of our #UKPoverty2026 report that launched this morning.

They also shared their reflections on they key findings in this impactful video ⬇️

Thanks to @ndironsmp.bsky.social for highlighting the need for cross-departmental collaboration to make Young Futures Hubs - and DWP Youth Hubs - a success.

Government needs a shared ambition for Young Futures, to maximise the role of the Hubs in delivering key ambitions for young people.

Future Minds - Centre for Mental Health Why investing in children’s mental health will unlock economic growth

Read more about our asks from Government as part of Future Minds and look out for the Roadmap coming very soon, with @cypmentalhealth.bsky.social @cfyounglives.bsky.social and Young Minds www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications...

The consultation must not be an excuse to just punt this crucial issue down the track.

Lords back UK social media ban for under-16s It comes as the government looks into its own potential ban, with a consultation closing in the summer.

The Govt has a historic opportunity to reset our children’s relationship with social media and be a world leader not a follower. Ministers must take this vote seriously, and not close the door to a ban under 16s from social media.

Rising child anxiety laid bare in decade of Mumsnet conversations Analysis of hundreds of thousands of posts shows parents struggling to deal with overwhelmed and phone-addicted children

Check out this piece in the Sunday Times with @mumsnet.bsky.social exploring the experiences over a decade of families seeking mental health support for their children 👇
www.thetimes.com/article/d787...