Naomi Finch
@drnaomifinch.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Social Policy @ University of York. Interested in gender equality, hybrid work, work-family balance, family policy, family wellbeing and poverty
Reposted by Naomi Finch
Like so many, my six year old son is currently being totally failed in his mainstream setting where he experiences trauma linked to the gaping holes in provision he falls through (think repeat suspension and confinement when he’s dysregulated)
Just imagine what this money could do instead.
Just imagine what this money could do instead.
Abu Dhabi owned provider of special schools and children's homes sees profits rise by 28% to £44 million due to strong demand.
That's all taxpayer money that could be spent on improving state provision.
schoolsweek.co.uk/abu-dhabi-ow...
That's all taxpayer money that could be spent on improving state provision.
schoolsweek.co.uk/abu-dhabi-ow...
Abu Dhabi-owned SEND school firm profits soar to £45m
Rise in private special school pupils helped deliver 30 per cent profit boost, company says
schoolsweek.co.uk
August 6, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Like so many, my six year old son is currently being totally failed in his mainstream setting where he experiences trauma linked to the gaping holes in provision he falls through (think repeat suspension and confinement when he’s dysregulated)
Just imagine what this money could do instead.
Just imagine what this money could do instead.
I hope to follow up my involvement in this to further explore perinatal loneliness, and its impacts.
Perinatal Loneliness - Consensus Statement
Excellent leadership from @ruthndwrites.bsky.social brought us together for this consensus statement with recommendations for research and practice
bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/5...
Excellent leadership from @ruthndwrites.bsky.social brought us together for this consensus statement with recommendations for research and practice
bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/5...
Exploring perinatal loneliness as a key social determinant of perinatal mental ill health in the UK: findings from a multidisciplinary consensus statement exercise that mapped knowledge about measurem...
Objectives New parents are at increased risk of loneliness, which adversely affects parental and infant health and well-being and has been linked to an increased likelihood of parental mental illness....
bmjopen.bmj.com
June 3, 2025 at 10:06 AM
I hope to follow up my involvement in this to further explore perinatal loneliness, and its impacts.
📣 I will be leading a new research project with Katharina Bader and Ivana LaValle
Effective Hybrid Work: Childcare, Work-Family life balance and Wellbeing.
Funded by the Nuffield Foundation
@nuffieldfoundation.org
Partners:
@Coramfam.bsky.social
@workingfamiliesuk.bsky.social
Effective Hybrid Work: Childcare, Work-Family life balance and Wellbeing.
Funded by the Nuffield Foundation
@nuffieldfoundation.org
Partners:
@Coramfam.bsky.social
@workingfamiliesuk.bsky.social
June 2, 2025 at 5:32 PM
📣 I will be leading a new research project with Katharina Bader and Ivana LaValle
Effective Hybrid Work: Childcare, Work-Family life balance and Wellbeing.
Funded by the Nuffield Foundation
@nuffieldfoundation.org
Partners:
@Coramfam.bsky.social
@workingfamiliesuk.bsky.social
Effective Hybrid Work: Childcare, Work-Family life balance and Wellbeing.
Funded by the Nuffield Foundation
@nuffieldfoundation.org
Partners:
@Coramfam.bsky.social
@workingfamiliesuk.bsky.social
Reposted by Naomi Finch
We are delighted to host Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant then Screwed. Please join us for this free webinar by signing up here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-pol...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-pol...
Social Policy Association Family Policy Group Webinar: Joeli Brearley
The Family Policy Group of the Social Policy Association is delighted to host Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed
www.eventbrite.co.uk
April 1, 2025 at 1:12 PM
We are delighted to host Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant then Screwed. Please join us for this free webinar by signing up here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-pol...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-pol...
Reposted by Naomi Finch
Government’s own analysis shows single women are the largest group to be hit by disability benefit cuts in the #SpringStatement
Read our immediate response 👇
www.wbg.org.uk/article/our-...
Read our immediate response 👇
www.wbg.org.uk/article/our-...
March 26, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Government’s own analysis shows single women are the largest group to be hit by disability benefit cuts in the #SpringStatement
Read our immediate response 👇
www.wbg.org.uk/article/our-...
Read our immediate response 👇
www.wbg.org.uk/article/our-...
Reposted by Naomi Finch
My Women and Welfare Conditionality book shows how hard it already was for disabled women to manage work and welfare before the new cuts. Research shows that poverty worsens health.
March 26, 2025 at 4:26 PM
My Women and Welfare Conditionality book shows how hard it already was for disabled women to manage work and welfare before the new cuts. Research shows that poverty worsens health.
Reposted by Naomi Finch
See jrf.org.uk/social-secur... for @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis from me looking at the c400 welfare changes (mostly cuts) scored the OBR since 2010. A £6bn cut containing a £5bn PIP cut is unprecedented - and I use that word advisedly.
March 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM
See jrf.org.uk/social-secur... for @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis from me looking at the c400 welfare changes (mostly cuts) scored the OBR since 2010. A £6bn cut containing a £5bn PIP cut is unprecedented - and I use that word advisedly.
Reposted by Naomi Finch
Important new evidence published today: large-scale DofE trial (N=12,166) found that two universal MH awareness interventions, in secondary schools, led to an *increase* in emotional symptoms at long term (9-12 month) follow up
tinyurl.com/4ffday8y
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tinyurl.com/4ffday8y
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February 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Important new evidence published today: large-scale DofE trial (N=12,166) found that two universal MH awareness interventions, in secondary schools, led to an *increase* in emotional symptoms at long term (9-12 month) follow up
tinyurl.com/4ffday8y
Thread below
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tinyurl.com/4ffday8y
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Reposted by Naomi Finch
I’m excited to share that me and Dr Laura Way will be running our popular @ncrm.ac.uk course again, ‘Building Constellations of Creative and Participatory Methods’. 31st March and 1st April online 10am-1pm.
Find out more and sign up here: www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/sho...
Find out more and sign up here: www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/sho...
Training course: Building Constellations of Creative and Participatory Research (online)
This exciting interactive workshop will develop your knowledge and skills in using creative and participatory research methods. Creative and participatory methods are increasingly being utilised by s
www.ncrm.ac.uk
January 14, 2025 at 5:20 PM
I’m excited to share that me and Dr Laura Way will be running our popular @ncrm.ac.uk course again, ‘Building Constellations of Creative and Participatory Methods’. 31st March and 1st April online 10am-1pm.
Find out more and sign up here: www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/sho...
Find out more and sign up here: www.ncrm.ac.uk/training/sho...
Reposted by Naomi Finch
‘Recent years have seen the social security system attacked by funding cuts on one side and harmful rhetoric on the other, portraying it as a failure rather than a life-saving safety net…a strong social security system is the sign of a healthy society where everyone’s basic needs are met...’
UK child poverty is preventable, and the End Child Poverty Coalition has a plan to eradicate it: read the Coalition's Chair Joe Howes explain its eight tests for the government's child poverty strategy 👇
www.bigissue.com/opinion/uk-c...
www.bigissue.com/opinion/uk-c...
Child poverty is preventable – as a country we must do better for our children
The government must ensure that no UK child grows up in poverty, says the End Child Poverty Coalition. Here's how it can do that.
www.bigissue.com
December 9, 2024 at 9:55 AM
‘Recent years have seen the social security system attacked by funding cuts on one side and harmful rhetoric on the other, portraying it as a failure rather than a life-saving safety net…a strong social security system is the sign of a healthy society where everyone’s basic needs are met...’
Reposted by Naomi Finch
It's more women than men who quit due to the additional burden they carry at home.
This is the cost of the ideal worker norm. We're losing incredible talent that can be transformational in achieving societal development. What do we gain?
Long hours work is largely performative yet harmful.
This is the cost of the ideal worker norm. We're losing incredible talent that can be transformational in achieving societal development. What do we gain?
Long hours work is largely performative yet harmful.
Nearly 50% of researchers quit science within a decade, huge study in Nature reveals. The reasons for this exodus include long hours, heavy workloads, poor salaries, and limited job prospects.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Nearly 50% of researchers quit science within a decade, huge study reveals
Twenty years of publishing data across many countries and disciplines show women are more likely than men to leave research.
www.nature.com
December 8, 2024 at 7:46 AM
It's more women than men who quit due to the additional burden they carry at home.
This is the cost of the ideal worker norm. We're losing incredible talent that can be transformational in achieving societal development. What do we gain?
Long hours work is largely performative yet harmful.
This is the cost of the ideal worker norm. We're losing incredible talent that can be transformational in achieving societal development. What do we gain?
Long hours work is largely performative yet harmful.
This discussion is more salient again.
📢 New III working paper:
Francisco H G Ferreira and Paolo Brunori discuss the differences between inequality of opportunity and meritocracy, and their possible roles in a fair society and growing economy.
🔗 https://buff.ly/3OFU5yU
Francisco H G Ferreira and Paolo Brunori discuss the differences between inequality of opportunity and meritocracy, and their possible roles in a fair society and growing economy.
🔗 https://buff.ly/3OFU5yU
December 6, 2024 at 10:19 AM
This discussion is more salient again.
Reposted by Naomi Finch
I fully agree with this. I also perceive that self awareness is crucial for school readiness . Children benefit from being comfortable in their own bodies and being supported to unpick the “alerts” for sensations, needs and feelings. Some children will need far more help with this than others
www.tes.com/magazine/ana...
School readiness is the fruit of good family and community support from conception. Including a strong focus on parental sensitivity and family relationships. I really hope a focus on school readiness is built on this broader understanding.
School readiness is the fruit of good family and community support from conception. Including a strong focus on parental sensitivity and family relationships. I really hope a focus on school readiness is built on this broader understanding.
Government needs Sure Start 2.0 to hit school-readiness goals
If Labour wants to hit its target of 75 per cent of 5-year-olds being school-ready, it will need to engage heavily in early years support - just as we had before, says Anne Longfield
www.tes.com
December 5, 2024 at 11:52 PM
I fully agree with this. I also perceive that self awareness is crucial for school readiness . Children benefit from being comfortable in their own bodies and being supported to unpick the “alerts” for sensations, needs and feelings. Some children will need far more help with this than others
Reposted by Naomi Finch
The PM recognises that families can’t make ends meet but if change is to come it will require reinvestment in social security. That’s the way to improve living standards for children. Abolition of the two-child limit is the first action struggling families need from the govt.
December 5, 2024 at 12:45 PM
The PM recognises that families can’t make ends meet but if change is to come it will require reinvestment in social security. That’s the way to improve living standards for children. Abolition of the two-child limit is the first action struggling families need from the govt.
I really welcome a focus on pre-school childcare in addition to older school children, including SEN. Why, however, is impact for older children only measured by attainment? Shouldn't child wellbeing also be an important measure of success throughout a child's life?
www.gov.uk/missions/opp...
www.gov.uk/missions/opp...
Break Down Barriers to Opportunity
Giving children the best start in life.
www.gov.uk
December 5, 2024 at 12:50 PM
I really welcome a focus on pre-school childcare in addition to older school children, including SEN. Why, however, is impact for older children only measured by attainment? Shouldn't child wellbeing also be an important measure of success throughout a child's life?
www.gov.uk/missions/opp...
www.gov.uk/missions/opp...
Reposted by Naomi Finch
Well done Lego! These are brilliant.
Next step is hidden disability Barbie.
Next step is hidden disability Barbie.
Lego introduces characters wearing hidden disability sunflower lanyard
Lego introduces characters wearing hidden disability sunflower lanyard
Toy company says it hopes move will help everyone ‘embrace diversity, value inclusivity and remove stigma’
Lego is introducing several characters who wear sunflower lanyards to its brick universe for the first time to raise awareness of a badge worn to…
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2024 at 12:15 AM
Well done Lego! These are brilliant.
Next step is hidden disability Barbie.
Next step is hidden disability Barbie.
Reposted by Naomi Finch
The Scottish government has made the right decision on the two-child limit, but Westminster must now step up and scrap it UK-wide. There can be no justification now for Westminster to drag its feet and continue to roll out poverty to more and more children through this policy.
December 4, 2024 at 3:50 PM
The Scottish government has made the right decision on the two-child limit, but Westminster must now step up and scrap it UK-wide. There can be no justification now for Westminster to drag its feet and continue to roll out poverty to more and more children through this policy.
Reposted by Naomi Finch
Our new cost of a child calculations show that, for the first time since the research started in 2008, all family types on low and modest incomes are unable to meet their costs or reach what the public deems a minimum acceptable living standard.
December 4, 2024 at 9:48 AM
Our new cost of a child calculations show that, for the first time since the research started in 2008, all family types on low and modest incomes are unable to meet their costs or reach what the public deems a minimum acceptable living standard.
Reposted by Naomi Finch
Burning injustices:
New figures published today show babies born in areas with the highest child poverty rates can expect to live 5 years fewer than those born in the areas with the lowest rates of child poverty.
New figures published today show babies born in areas with the highest child poverty rates can expect to live 5 years fewer than those born in the areas with the lowest rates of child poverty.
December 4, 2024 at 11:39 AM
Burning injustices:
New figures published today show babies born in areas with the highest child poverty rates can expect to live 5 years fewer than those born in the areas with the lowest rates of child poverty.
New figures published today show babies born in areas with the highest child poverty rates can expect to live 5 years fewer than those born in the areas with the lowest rates of child poverty.
Reposted by Naomi Finch
Women are under-represented at senior levels in #academia globally, & across all #science 🧪 disciplines, as shown by these "scissor-shaped curves" ✂️
So how can we ever achieve #gender #equality?
We discuss various strategies in this #Cell Commentary
#WomeninSTEM
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🧵 1/
So how can we ever achieve #gender #equality?
We discuss various strategies in this #Cell Commentary
#WomeninSTEM
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🧵 1/
November 25, 2024 at 12:38 PM
Women are under-represented at senior levels in #academia globally, & across all #science 🧪 disciplines, as shown by these "scissor-shaped curves" ✂️
So how can we ever achieve #gender #equality?
We discuss various strategies in this #Cell Commentary
#WomeninSTEM
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🧵 1/
So how can we ever achieve #gender #equality?
We discuss various strategies in this #Cell Commentary
#WomeninSTEM
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
🧵 1/
Reposted by Naomi Finch
Adapting buildings is one thing but all aspects of education needs change - the teacher training curriculum to improve awareness and understanding, greater flexibility in attitudes, the school day and curriculum, a wider range of qualifications and subjects etc. etc. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Schools given £740m to adapt buildings for Send pupils
The money is the
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2024 at 7:43 AM
Adapting buildings is one thing but all aspects of education needs change - the teacher training curriculum to improve awareness and understanding, greater flexibility in attitudes, the school day and curriculum, a wider range of qualifications and subjects etc. etc. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Naomi Finch
If Starmer announces a greater focus on household disposable incomes this Thu, that is a good thing and not a moment to soon.
This is the scale of the challenge:
This is the scale of the challenge:
December 3, 2024 at 1:09 PM
If Starmer announces a greater focus on household disposable incomes this Thu, that is a good thing and not a moment to soon.
This is the scale of the challenge:
This is the scale of the challenge:
Supporting the evidence that work-family balance policies (or rather lack of them) are important to explain declining and low fertility rates.
"All three types of flexible working arrangements—reducing hours, increasing work-schedule flexibility, and increasing workplace flexibility— improve fertility intentions. The effects are especially substantial for women, for whom anticipated work–family conflict is an important mediator"
Flexible Working Arrangements and Fertility Intentions: A Survey Experiment in Singapore - European Journal of Population
This study examines how young, unmarried, working people’s fertility intention is shaped by future scenarios where flexible working arrangements (FWAs) are the default. The unmarried population remain...
link.springer.com
November 28, 2024 at 9:02 AM
Supporting the evidence that work-family balance policies (or rather lack of them) are important to explain declining and low fertility rates.
Reposted by Naomi Finch
There's consensus around the need to invest more in childcare, with a major increase announced last Parliament and confirmed in the recent Budget.
Spending in England this year (2024-25) is 41 per cent higher in real terms than a decade ago (2014-15) – up from £5.1 billion to £7.2 billion a year.
Spending in England this year (2024-25) is 41 per cent higher in real terms than a decade ago (2014-15) – up from £5.1 billion to £7.2 billion a year.
November 25, 2024 at 5:10 PM
There's consensus around the need to invest more in childcare, with a major increase announced last Parliament and confirmed in the recent Budget.
Spending in England this year (2024-25) is 41 per cent higher in real terms than a decade ago (2014-15) – up from £5.1 billion to £7.2 billion a year.
Spending in England this year (2024-25) is 41 per cent higher in real terms than a decade ago (2014-15) – up from £5.1 billion to £7.2 billion a year.