Bringing together national and regional systems leaders, policymakers, academics, practitioners, and young people together to explore bold, evidence-informed strategies that will transform outcomes for children and families across the UK.
The National Opportunity Summit was held at Cloth Hall Court in Leeds on Monday 8 September, 2025.
Focused on the theme of ‘Building a country that works for all children and young people’ delegates at the National Opportunity Summit heard from a prestigious speaker line-up about how to achieve the UK Government’s Opportunity Mission, the goal of which is to break down the link between a person’s background and their future success, and giving children the best start in life.
Hosted by CHORAL (a partnership between the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust) and the Centre for Young Lives, the event was opened by Professor Shearer West, Vice Chancellor, University of Leeds and Professor Charlie Jeffery, Vice Chancellor, University of York, and chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield CBE, Executive Chair and Founder, Centre for Young Lives and Rachel Sylvester, Political Editor, The Observer.
Developed in partnership with Child of the North (a collaboration of academics, practitioners, and policy experts working to tackle childhood inequalities) the Summit highlighted the progress made since the release of a major report series last year, which sets out practical, evidence-informed ways for the government to reset its vision for children and young people.
Presentations
- Universities supporting the Opportunity Mission through the Child of the North initiative – Professor Matthew Grenby, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Newcastle University
- How to build a country that works for all children and young people – Professor Kate Pickett OBE, Director, Born in Bradford Centre for Social Change, University of York; and Professor David Taylor-Robinson, Health Equity North Academic Co-Director, University of Liverpool
- Opportunities for partnership between health and education: Delivering the healthiest generation of children – Professor Steve Turner, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- What the evidence from Child of the North tells us. Chaired by Professor Matthew Grenby, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Newcastle University with guest presenters
- Dr Charmele Ayadurai, Assistant Professor of Finance, Durham University Business School
- Professor Caroline Bond, Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Manchester
- Dr Eleanor Bryant, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Bradford
- Professor Andrew Daly-Smith, Professor of Physical Activity & Child Health, University of Bradford
- Professor Peter Day, Professor of Children’s Oral Health, University of Leeds
- Professor Sarah Howard, Professor of Digital Education, University of Leeds
- Professor Neil Humphrey, Mental Health & Wellbeing Report Lead, University of Manchester
- Professor Zoe Marshman, Professor in Dental Public Health, University of Sheffield
- Professor Mark Mon-Williams, Chair in Cognitive Psychology, University of Leeds
- Professor Faisal Mushtaq, Professor of Cognitive Science, University of Leeds
- Professor Uta Papen, Professor of Literacy Studies, Lancaster University
- Professor Liz Todd OBE, Professor of Education Inclusion, Newcastle University
- Professor Ruth Wadman, Associate Professor in Children and Young People’s Mental Health, University of Bradford
Discussions
- Opportunities for structural change and transformation: Challenges and solutions, chaired by Baroness Longfield and Rachel Sylvester, with panelists:
- Dr Sarah Cattan, A Fairer Start Mission Director, Nesta
- Councillor Jon Hubbard, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Skills, Wiltshire Council
- Charlotte Ramsden, CEO, Bradford Children and Family Trust
- Jonny Uttley, CEO, Education Alliance
- Opportunities for partnership between health and education: Delivering the healthiest generation of children, a discussion between event chair Rachel Sylvester and Professor Steve Turner, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- Health and education strategic partnerships to drive wellbeing and life chances, chaired by Rachel Sylvester, with panelists:
- Michelle Carrington, Deputy Executive Nurse/Director of Nursing Health and Care Integration, Humber & North Yorkshire ICB
- Pepe Di’lasio, General Secretary, Association of School of College Leaders
- Maryam Kapree, CHORAL Young Person Representative
- Julie Longworth, Director of Children and Families, Leeds City Council
- Professor Steve Turner, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- Delivering impact for children and families, chaired by Baroness Anne Longfield, with panelists:
- Anne-Marie Canning MBE, CEO, The Brilliant Club
- Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive, Foundations – What Works Centre for Children & Families
- Dr Camilla Kingdon, Non-Executive Director, Great Ormand Street Hospital for Children
- Professor John Wright, Director of Research, Bradford Institute of Health Research
- Stian Westlake, CEO, Economic and Social Research Council
- Kathryn Loftus, Director, Education Alliance for Life Chances
The agenda also featured Sophie Balmer, CHORAL Young Person Representative, who shared her own lived experience.
New report on school readiness
The latest report from Child of the North was presented at the Summit. Focused on school readiness, Education Equity for the North of England: Challenges and Opportunities highlights widening inequalities and the ongoing impact on children deemed ‘not ready’ to start school. Examining the latest data, the report provides a worrying outlook, highlighting how children ‘not ready’ to start school are at higher risk of issues such as poor dental health and being out of work or education in years to come.
Launch of #ChildrenFirst campaign
The Summit also marked the launch of the 2025 #ChildrenFirst campaign, which provides an implementation focus to the 2024 campaign ‘A country that works for all children and young people’, which saw Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives jointly publish a series of twelve reports showing how putting the interests and life chances of children and young people at the heart of policymaking and delivery is crucial to Britain’s future.
The #ChildrenFirst campaign will see report updates and “how-to” guides released on a weekly basis. These guides, which align with each of the original 12 reports, will equip practitioners with the tools to apply evidence directly in their contexts. The re-issuing of the 2024 reports alongside these guides ensures that the research continues to inform debate while actively shaping delivery on the ground.
2025 campaign timeline for publication of report updates and how to guides:
September 2025
- 12th – Addressing the autism assessment and support crisis
- 19th – Addressing poverty with and through schools
- 26th – Improving mental health and wellbeing with and through educational settings
October 2025
- 3rd – Building the foundations of a new ‘Sure Start’: Connecting and coordinating support and services in and around education settings
- 10th – Supporting physical activity and healthy nutrition with and through education settings
- 17th – Addressing the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) assessment and support crisis
- 24th – Upskilling our children and young people for digital futures
- 31st – Improving children’s oral health with and through educational settings
November 2025