News & opinion

Our latest news, and opinions from across the sector.

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 — 16 Feb 2026

Conception to reception: Reframing school readiness

Based on evidence from the recent A Better Start school readiness-themed insight report, the National Children’s Bureau will be delivering a free webinar for early years practitioners, local authorities and educators, and any professionals interested in childhood development.

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News & opinion — 12 Feb 2026

NCB announces major new partnerships to strengthen wellbeing and tackle bullying in schools

During this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week, the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) is proud to share two significant new partnerships that will strengthen support for children’s wellbeing and embed preventative, evidence‑informed practice across the education system.

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News & opinion — 11 Feb 2026

CDC welcomes Govt announcement of new 'inclusion bases' in schools

Alongside the new Education Estates Strategy, the Government has announced new inclusion bases to support students with additional needs. The new inclusion bases will replace SEN units, resourced provisions, and pupil support units.

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The early years — 22 Jan 2026

Why avoiding race does not give every child the best start in life

Sandra Igwe MBE, Founder & Chief Executive, The Motherhood Group, outlines in a blog the impacts of race and racism in early years policy and practice.

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News & opinion — 21 Jan 2026

SEND - a system in crisis or one that is finally able to articulate its challenges?

Amanda Allard, Director of the Council for Disabled Children, looks ahead to the planned SEND reforms expected in the Schools White Paper and invites nominations for the 2026 SEND Awards.

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News & opinion

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

Conception to reception: Reframing school readiness

NCB announces major new partnerships to strengthen wellbeing and tackle bullying in schools

CDC welcomes Govt announcement of new 'inclusion bases' in schools

Why avoiding race does not give every child the best start in life

SEND - a system in crisis or one that is finally able to articulate its challenges?

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