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childofthenorth.bsky.social
Child of the North
@childofthenorth.bsky.social
340 followers 150 following 190 posts
Our vision is for children in the North of England to grow up with the same opportunities and life chances as those in the rest of the country.

Child of the North is joint project with the N8 Research Partnership and Health Equity North
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childofthenorth.bsky.social
Child of the North @childofthenorth.bsky.social · 6d
We urgently need a whole system response to address the multifaceted root causes of school absence.

Our latest analysis highlights a persisting attendance crisis, with inequalities related to poverty and disadvantage becoming entrenched.

Read on for insights and recommendations 👇

#ChildrenFirst
We urgently need a whole system response to address the multifaceted root causes of school absence. The government must prioritise building a country that works for all children and young people. #ChildrenFirst. Featured logos of Child of the North, N8 Research Partnership, Health Equity North and Centre for Young Lives. Last year, we described a school attendance crisis following the Covid-19 pandemic. The crisis remains with inequalities related to poverty and disadvantage becoming entrenched. We need a whole system response tailored to localities, and systematic evaluation of what works. Our practitioner toolkits support schools, child health workers and local authorities to implement expert recommendations. We are calling on the government, and everyone, to put children first. #ChildrenFirst
Reposted by Child of the North
cfyounglives.bsky.social
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…
November 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
We urgently need a whole system response to address the multifaceted root causes of school absence.

Our latest analysis highlights a persisting attendance crisis, with inequalities related to poverty and disadvantage becoming entrenched.

Read on for insights and recommendations 👇

#ChildrenFirst
We urgently need a whole system response to address the multifaceted root causes of school absence. The government must prioritise building a country that works for all children and young people. #ChildrenFirst. Featured logos of Child of the North, N8 Research Partnership, Health Equity North and Centre for Young Lives. Last year, we described a school attendance crisis following the Covid-19 pandemic. The crisis remains with inequalities related to poverty and disadvantage becoming entrenched. We need a whole system response tailored to localities, and systematic evaluation of what works. Our practitioner toolkits support schools, child health workers and local authorities to implement expert recommendations. We are calling on the government, and everyone, to put children first. #ChildrenFirst
November 14, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Child of the North
putchildrenfirst.info
CEO of @alderheycharity.org, Fiona Ashcroft, spoke on BBC Radio as we join 100+ charities urging the government to scrap the two-child limit in the upcoming budget.

For too long, children have been left behind, and now child poverty is at a record high.

It’s time the Chancellor #PutChildrenFirst.
November 13, 2025 at 11:10 AM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
On Tuesday, Professor Pam Qualter from @manchester.ac.uk spoke to members of the Child of the North APPG in Parliament. The group discussed her research on child mental health and wellbeing, emphasising the importance of early interventions and role of community context in child mental health. 1/3
November 13, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Reposted by Child of the North
emmalewellmp.bsky.social
A very productive @childofthenorth.bsky.social APPG meeting this afternoon, discussing our upcoming report.

Lots of great ideas shared that we will be taking forward ✍️📜
November 11, 2025 at 4:39 PM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
The preschool years are critical to breaking the cycle of disadvantage and securing the future of the UK

Last year, we highlighted how a third of children were not school ready. New government policies provide hope, but we must work together to ensure that no child is left behind.

A thread👇
The preschool years are critical to breaking the cycle of disadvantage, and securing a healthy future for the UK. The government must prioritise building a country that works for all children and young people. #ChildrenFirst. Featured logos of Child of the North, N8 Research Partnership, Health Equity North and Centre for Young Lives. Last year, we reported a preschool crisis, with a third of children arriving at school without the core skills needed to achieve and thrive. One year on, government policies offer optimism, but we must maintain focus on prevention and ensure no child is left behind. Our practitioner toolkits support schools, child health workers and local authorities to implement expert recommendations. We are calling on the government, and everyone, to put children first. #ChildrenFirst
November 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
A new board game inspired by a @sheffielduni.bsky.social report is helping students learn how digital inequalities affect their everyday lives.

The report, part of the #ChildrenFirst campaign, calls for government guidance to mitigate harms of digital encounters.

sheffield.ac.uk/news/bridgin...
sheffielduni.bsky.social The University of Sheffield @sheffielduni.bsky.social · 20d
Not all young people are digital natives. In fact, 75% of young people don’t feel they have the necessary digital skills to thrive in life.

What if a life-size playable board game could help students learn about digital inequalities in everyday life?

www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/bridgin...
Bridging the ‘digital divide’ with board games
Helping young people who have moved to University navigate online and digital spaces necessary for their education, and overcome the pitfalls they may encounter, is the subject of a new board game fro...
www.sheffield.ac.uk
November 5, 2025 at 9:54 AM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
For week 8 of our #ChildrenFirst campaign, we're talking oral health

New gov policies reflect evidence from Child of the North and @cfyounglives.bsky.social and offer optimism, but there is still much to do

Social inequalities must be addressed so that no child is left behind

Cont. in comments
Tooth decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions for children aged 5 to 9, and those in the North experience poorer oral health. The government must prioritise building a country that works for all children and young people. #ChildrenFirst. Featured logos of Child of the North, N8 Research Partnership, Health Equity North and Centre for Young Lives. Our 2024 report exposed the unacceptable state of children's oral health and offered solutions. One year on, government policies offer optimism but we must maintain focus on prevention and ensure no child is left behind. Our practitioner toolkits support schools, child health workers, and local authorities to implement expert recommendations. We are calling on the government, and everyone to put children first. #ChildrenFirst
October 31, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Reposted by Child of the North
sheffielduni.bsky.social
Not all young people are digital natives. In fact, 75% of young people don’t feel they have the necessary digital skills to thrive in life.

What if a life-size playable board game could help students learn about digital inequalities in everyday life?

www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/bridgin...
Bridging the ‘digital divide’ with board games
Helping young people who have moved to University navigate online and digital spaces necessary for their education, and overcome the pitfalls they may encounter, is the subject of a new board game fro...
www.sheffield.ac.uk
October 31, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Reposted by Child of the North
lancasteruni.bsky.social
The SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) system is facing ‘a worsening crisis’, according to a new Child of the North report update by @n8research.bsky.social 📝👇

@childofthenorth.bsky.social | @healthequitynorth.bsky.social | @cfyounglives.bsky.social | #ChildrenFirst
SEND support system crisis worsens – latest analysis shows - Lancaster University
The special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, already known to be in deep trouble, now faces ‘a worsening crisis’ which, say experts, puts the UK on the brink of a national emergency.
www.lancaster.ac.uk
October 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
We support lifting the two-child cap, as our research shows it to be damaging to the most vulnerable families.

www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/child-of-the...
theifs.bsky.social The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 27d
Relative child poverty has risen since 2010–11, a rise entirely driven by families with three or more children.

Around 60% of families with three or more children are entitled to means tested benefits, and therefore can expect to have their entitlements reduced by the policy.
Chart shows proportion of children in relative income poverty (measured after deducting housing costs), by number of children in family. Title states: "Relative income poverty among children has risen since 2010–11, driven entirely by rises amongst families with three or more children."
October 27, 2025 at 2:13 PM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
The digital divide continues to limit the life chances of millions of children in Northern England.

Join our campaign to put #ChildrenFirst

www.n8research.org.uk/research-foc...

Head to the comments for more info and resources...

#DigitalDivide #DigitalInclusion #DigitalFutures
The digital divide continues to limit the life chances of millions of children in Northern England. The government must prioritise building a country that works for all children and young people. #ChildrenFirst. Featured logos of Child of the North, N8 Research Partnership, Health Equity North and Centre for Young Lives.
October 24, 2025 at 12:14 PM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
Schools lack the resources to support the 1.28 million children in England with special educational needs.

Join our campaign to put #ChildrenFirst

Visit: www.n8research.org.uk/research-foc...

Head to the comments for more info and resources...

#SENDcrisis
Schools lack the resources to support the 1.28 million children in England with special educational needs. The government must prioritise building a country that works for all children and young people. #ChildrenFirst. Featured logos of Child of the North, N8 Research Partnership, Health Equity North and Centre for Young Lives.
October 17, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Reposted by Child of the North
uniofbradford.bsky.social
Today the University of Bradford joins with universities across the North to call on the Government to take urgent action to improve the lives of children as part of the #ChildrenFirst campaign, which highlights inequalities in the health of young people in the North of England. bit.ly/4nYY7Ck
Children in the North are losing up to 10 years of life due to inactivity and inequality - 2025 - News - University of Bradford
Today the University of Bradford joins with universities across the North to call on the Government to take urgent action to improve the lives of children as part of the #ChildrenFirst campaign, which...
bit.ly
October 13, 2025 at 10:53 AM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
“We don’t need to do anything radical, we just need to lift children out of poverty”

Listen to our #ChildoftheNorth panel from Labour Party Conference to hear our panellists discuss how child health and social inequalities can, and must, be reduced.

www.healthequitynorth.co.uk/video-addres...
October 14, 2025 at 8:41 AM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
Children in the North are losing up to 10 years of life due to inactivity and inequality.

Join our campaign to put #ChildrenFirst and call on the government to build a country that works for all children and young people.

Visit: www.n8research.org.uk/research-foc...
Children in the North are losing up to 10 years of life due to inactivity and inequality. The government must prioritise building a country that works for all children and young people. #ChildrenFirst. Featured logos of Child of the North, N8 Research Partnership, Health Equity North and Centre for Young Lives.
October 10, 2025 at 3:18 PM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
You can now listen to our panel event from Labour Party Conference 2025, where we heard from Kate Proctor from @savechildrenuk.bsky.social, @samrushworthmp.bsky.social, @grahamwhitham.bsky.social, @profkepickett.bsky.social, and Professor David Taylor-Robinson from @liverpooluni.bsky.social. 1/2
October 9, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Reposted by Child of the North
policyleeds.bsky.social
The new analysis builds on a major series of reports published last year on key topics identified by Northern child health leaders as major issues of concern.

Read the full report: tinyurl.com/3cwkkkxp

Learn more about the Child of the North: www.n8research.org.uk/research-foc...
www.n8research.org.uk
October 9, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Reposted by Child of the North
policyleeds.bsky.social
📈 Nearly 80,000 more children and young people accessed NHS-funded mental health services in the past year.

Figures from the Child of the North’s #ChildrenFirst campaign reveal that referrals rose from 749,833 in 2023 to 829,308 in 2024/25 - an 11% increase.
October 9, 2025 at 9:19 AM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
Today’s @yorkshirepost.co.uk features a column written by @healthequitynorth.bsky.social Exec Director @hannahdavies.bsky.social, who sets out why it’s imperative to scrap the two-child benefit cap if we want to see a reduction in the child poverty rates.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion...
October 7, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Reposted by Child of the North
resolutionfoundation.org
None of the proposed two-child limit options are as efficient in lifting children out of poverty as fully scrapping the policy.

Fully abolishing the two-child limit should be the starting point of any successful Child Poverty Strategy.

Read more➡️ buff.ly/DyvTYGN
Table 1 shows the cost per child lifted out of poverty for fully scrapping the two-child limit and each of the floated options. The only option that has a similar cost-effectiveness to full abolition is exempting families who are in work, at £7,540 per child lifted out of poverty, (compared to £7,480 for full abolition). The lower cost-effectiveness of the other options should be considered alongside the issues outlined above that each option would introduce.
October 4, 2025 at 5:45 PM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
For children to have their best start in life, health and education partnerships and community collaboration are key.

Best Start hubs are a move in the right direction, but partnerships need to be accelerated.

Join our campaign to put #ChildrenFirst

Visit: www.n8research.org.uk/research-foc...
For children to have their best start in life, health and education partnerships and community collaboration are key. The government must prioritise building a country that works for all children and young people. #ChildrenFirst. Featured logos of Child of the North, N8 Research Partnership, Health Equity North and Centre for Young Lives.
October 3, 2025 at 12:33 PM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
We want to say a huge thank you to all our speakers & attendees at our #ChildofTheNorth panel at #LabourPartyConference. The inspirational event included those leading change for children in poverty, and young people with lived experience who shared their powerful stories. 1/2
October 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
Great discussions at our #LabourPartyConference2025 panel, emphasising the need to put poverty reduction at the centre of both national and local government priorities. 1/2
September 30, 2025 at 11:41 AM
childofthenorth.bsky.social
We are looking forward to hosting our wireless event ‘Addressing child health and social inequalities through poverty reduction nationally and locally’ at #LabourPartyConference2025, with @healthequitynorth.bsky.social and York Policy Engine.

Conference pass holders can join us at 10am in the ACC.
September 30, 2025 at 8:16 AM