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A child's hand holding a toothbrush under a running tap.

Brushing up on oral health: how can health policy prevent tooth decay in children?

Dr Georgios KitsarasProfessor Tanya Walsh By , and Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

Children’s oral health in England is in crisis, with thousands of children across the country suffering from dental caries, the most prevalent and prominent form of dental disease. In response, the government has promised measures to tackle dental health inequalities. But how can policymakers best implement this plan to ensure it has the desired impact? […]

Closeup of stressed teenage girl talking to mental health therapist in session

Social and Emotional Learning for Every Child: Why SEL Matters

By , , and Filed Under: Education, Health and Care Posted:

As concerns surrounding children’s mental health continue to grow, the role schools can play in supporting children’s mental health is receiving more attention. Universal, school-based interventions known as  “Social and emotional learning” (SEL) interventions, delivered to all children, are a cost-effective and non-stigmatising approach to supporting wellbeing and healthy child development. These interventions aim to […]

Child is served a nutritious school meal by smiling dinner ladies

Breaking down barriers with free school meals

By , and Filed Under: All posts Posted:

Child poverty in the UK is a pervasive problem, with the latest figures showing that 29% of children in the UK are growing up in poverty. This rises to nearly 50% in families with more than three children. Child poverty is not spread evenly across the UK. 23.8% of pupils are eligible for free school […]

Article image - teacher pointing at schoolchildren

Re-professionalising teaching: addressing authorisation, accountability and attrition

Andrew Howes By and Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Education Posted:

Teacher recruitment and retention is currently in a critical state – as outlined by The National Foundation for Educational Research’s (NFER) 2024 report on the teacher labour market in England. This puts at risk the quality of education that children and young people receive. In this article, Andrew Howes and Louisa Dawes acknowledge the Labour […]

Several women practicing football on a grass field

Creating SPACES for young people’s wellbeing

Stephanie RaySamuel Hugh-Jones By , and Filed Under: Education, Health and Care, Health and Social Care Posted:

Adolescent wellbeing is a predictor of school attainment, adult mental health, relationships, and socioeconomic outcomes. However, the wellbeing of young people in the UK has significantly decreased in the last two decades. Current research into creative health has found increasingly positive links between supporting participation in arts, culture, entertainment,and sports (SPACES) and young people’s wellbeing. […]

School pupils entering a school building

All present and correct? Alternative provision and school attendance

By Filed Under: All posts, Education Posted:

Improving school attendance is a key priority for schools, education policymakers and local authorities, as regular school attendance is widely recognised as a key component of learning and educational achievement. Despite this, rates of persistent school absence have increased considerably since the COVID-19 pandemic, with no signs of returning to pre-pandemic levels. In this article, […]

Supermarket aisle with unhealthy food

The childhood obesity crisis – driven by deprivation?

Rachel Griffith By Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, UK economy Posted:

Children growing up in the most deprived areas of the UK are over twice as likely to be obese as children growing up in the least deprived areas. Obesity and associated malnutrition in childhood can have significant long-term impacts on physical and psychological health, and on children’s long-term social and economic outcomes. In this article, […]

Locked up like adults – COVID-19 experiences for children in custodial settings

Dr Charlotte Lennox By Filed Under: All posts, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Open Minds Posted:

During the early period of the pandemic, there was a lack of detailed guidance for many groups, including the secure estate. For children in custodial settings, this meant staff often applied measures intended for adult prisons, in lieu of any other information. Here, Dr Charlotte Lennox shares her research showing children in such settings were an invisible group […]

Group of schoolchildren - article image

Wellbeing in education settings – listening to children and young people

Alexandra Hennessey author headshotKirsty Pert By , and Filed Under: All posts, Education Posted:

The role of education settings in promoting good wellbeing and mental health among children and young people has been increasingly formalised in national policy. But often the voices of the key stakeholders – children and young people – are not adequately sought, heard, or given due weight. In this article, Dr Ola Demkowicz, Dr Alexandra […]

Image of a path through a green park with a few people walking and cycling through it.

Charting a path to clean air: A community-centred approach to active travel policy

Sheena Cruickshank By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Urban Posted:

Greater Manchester has amongst the worst air quality in the UK. Air pollution causes many health problems, as well as worsening pre-existing health conditions. Increasingly, Greater Manchester residents are concerned about poor air quality and want actions to be taken. Yet, budgets that could support change are under more and more constraints. In this article, […]

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