News & opinion

Our latest news, and opinions from across the sector.

Inequality & poverty — 30 Apr 2026

Boosting incomes for the poorest families linked to fewer child protection plans

A study led by Kingston University, in collaboration with NCB, Policy in Practice, the University of Sussex and Research in Practice, has found that the poorest households are more likely to experience repeat social care involvement and escalation to child protection plans.

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The early years — 16 Apr 2026

Giving every child the best start: Reflections from our joint APPG Early Years event

Beatriz Torres, NCB Policy and Public Affairs Officer, reflects on a parliamentary event hosted by three All-Party Parliamentary Groups.

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The early years — 16 Apr 2026

NCB responds to government package to increase the number of school-ready children

We broadly welcome the measures announced today by the Department for Education in support of its aim to increase school readiness, but the starting gun for a child's development should be at birth, not Offer Day.

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Mental health & wellbeing — 10 Apr 2026

Putting children’s safety first online: why NCB has signed the Joint Statement of Principles

NCB, alongside our specialist membership group, the Anti-Bullying Alliance, and many partners across the children’s sector, has signed the Joint Statement of Principles for Furthering the Protection of Children Online.

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Policy — 8 Apr 2026

Poverty and working across the life course

April 2026 marks the lifting of the two-child limit – a major victory for those who fought for its removal. But poverty continues to affect people’s lives and much more remains to be done to tackle it.

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Children in Care — 30 Mar 2026

Supporting Parents with a learning disability - the role of adult services

A new briefing highlights how Adult Services can better support parents with a learning disability – an issue linked with increased involvement in the child protection system and, too often, family separation.

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Social care & looked after children — 20 Mar 2026

Reflecting on Baroness Louise Casey’s recommendations for government

Lisa Smith and Melika Malone-Lee, from NCB family member Research in Practice, share their response to Baroness Casey's assessment of the challenges facing adult social care.

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Research — 17 Mar 2026

How emotional safety can be used to minimise distress and maximise empowerment in co-produced research

In this blog, NCB's Rhea Singhvi and Tessa Morgan from the University of Cambridge reflect on a new collaborative study that outlines a framework to prioritise emotional safety when co-producing research with underserved populations.

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SEND & inclusion — 4 Mar 2026

Hear from the Hubs: Insights and learnings from the Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs

In a new NCB podcast, discover more about the Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs programme and the factors underpinning its success through the insights of the team overseeing the delivery of the programme, Hub leaders and some of practitioners who have benefited from its support.

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The early years — 24 Feb 2026

Integration is key: Lessons from A Better Start

Karla Capstick, the former director of Small Steps, Big Changes and now Director of Programme at Thrive at Five, and Sophie Woodhead, Assistant Director of Systems and Innovation at NCB and the former Assistant Director of LEAP, share their reflections on integration, offering insights from the A Better Start programme on how collaboration, governance, and long-term investment can help systems work effectively for families.

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Policy — 20 Feb 2026

Schools White Paper: Not the end of the journey, but a critically important landmark

Following the publication of the White Paper, Every Child Achieving and Thriving, the Council for Disabled Children, part of the National Children's Bureau family, is pleased to see the scale of the government's vision and commitment of resources for children and young people with additional needs and their families.

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News & opinion — 17 Feb 2026

'The Double Rainbow': My intersectional identity as an autistic and gay man

Joe Fautley, Project Coordinator in the Public Health Team at NCB and autistic and neurodivergent speaker, writer and advocate, reflects on opening up more about his identity.

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News & opinion

Boosting incomes for the poorest families linked to fewer child protection plans

Giving every child the best start: Reflections from our joint APPG Early Years event

NCB responds to government package to increase the number of school-ready children

Putting children’s safety first online: why NCB has signed the Joint Statement of Principles

Poverty and working across the life course

Supporting Parents with a learning disability - the role of adult services

Reflecting on Baroness Louise Casey’s recommendations for government

How emotional safety can be used to minimise distress and maximise empowerment in co-produced research

Hear from the Hubs: Insights and learnings from the Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs

Integration is key: Lessons from A Better Start

Schools White Paper: Not the end of the journey, but a critically important landmark

'The Double Rainbow': My intersectional identity as an autistic and gay man

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