The first years of life are critical to a child's lifelong health, educational attainment and life opportunities. We must maintain a relentless focus on prevention and that means from birth onwards.

Important work from @childofthenorth.bsky.social

n8research.org.uk/one-in-three-c…

We’ve joined 100+ others in calling for the government to fully scrap the two-child limit. Every child deserves the best start in life. By fully scrapping the two-child limit the government can deliver a decisive shift in children’s opportunities, and in the UK's potential.

The last four weeks have been a shocking and often infuriating insight into how Government failed so many children during a national time of crisis.

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

Today’s DfE stats on pupil absence show a welcome fall in persistent absence, but another increase in severe absence.

Pupils eligible for free school means remain over three and half times more likely to be severe absentees than those not eligible.

Our research published last week shows how the Covid pandemic is still casting a long shadow over the lives of many children in England.

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We need to give our children back the time, space, opportunity, freedom - and the right - to play again.

We’ve set out a bold and necessary vision and framework to restore play to the heart of childhood in England.

We urge this mission-led Government to act upon it.

The Commission has been chaired by Paul Lindley with the support of 20 expert commissioners and we received and heard evidence from 100s of experts, campaigners, organisations, parents, and - crucially - children.

We’ve put forward a positive vision of a country where children’s play is at the heart of government strategy and our public spaces, and where it is embedded across education, health, local government and beyond.

Today our year-long Raising the Nation Play Commission into why play is critical to the wellbeing and development of children publishes its Final Report, #EverythingToPlayFor.

It’s time to reclaim childhood with a National Play Strategy for England.

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

Thanks to our Visiting Fellow @jonnyuttley.bsky.social for leading on this vital work, and to the many school leaders across the country who have been taking part in our discussions over the last year and provided valuable insight.

Our recommendations include new statutory guidance on inclusion, improved monitoring of school roll data, a review of the legal right of Academy Trusts to be their own admissions authority, and new guidance on managed moves.

New data analysis in the report reveals which parts of England have the highest and lowest rates of lost learning and attainment gaps – with the top 10 most inclusive local authorities all in London.

The report provides a new definition of inclusive education - schools which support all young people to succeed, take a representative cohort of children from their community, and achieve good outcomes for those children.

Last year we published research showing the impact poverty can have on school attendance. Cutting the cost of uniform is one way of supporting parents on the lowest incomes. We heard from parents who were struggling to afford multiple school branded items.

More in today’s FT

Our Executive Chair Baroness Longfield spoke to Radio 4’s Westminster Hour last night about why we need to do much more to protect children online.

Full interview below.

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Great to see The Times editorial this morning backing our call to tackle the barriers which are stopping many children from playing outside.

We need to see a register of children not in school. The Sara Sharif tragedy makes that even more obvious and urgent. DfE stats out today show 112k children in elective home education in the autumn term, up from 92k. 14% are recorded as being taught at home for “philosophical reasons”.

We’re pleased to be at the government’s Plan for Change speech today, and welcome the commitment to ensuring a record proportion of children arrive at school ready to learn.

Now for the hard work of delivering.