New campaign launches at the National Opportunity Summit: Building a country that works for all children and young people
A new campaign is launching today in response to the latest analysis by the Child of the North research initiative focused on school readiness, which highlights widening inequalities and the ongoing impact on children deemed ‘not ready’ to start school.
The campaign aims to build on the progress made since the release of a major report series last year, produced jointly by Child of the North and the Centre for Young Lives, which sets out practical, evidence-informed ways for the government to reset its vision for children and young people.
However, a new report Education Equity for the North of England: Challenges and Opportunities examining the latest data, 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. The Child of the North research group and partners are calling for more to be done.
“We have got to act at pace or we will fail the next school generation.”
Professor Mark Mon-Williams, Report Series Editor
National Opportunity Summit: Building a country that works for all children and young people
The report is being presented today at the National Opportunity Summit in Leeds, a landmark event bringing national and regional system 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 event is hosted by CHORAL (a partnership between the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust) and the Centre for Young Lives, in partnership with Child of the North.
At the Summit – focused on the theme of ‘Building a country that works for all children and young people’ – delegates will hear 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.
Child of the North 2025 campaign
The Summit also marks the launch of the Child of the North 2025 campaign, which will provide toolkits to schools, child health services and local authorities on 12 topics identified by child health leaders as the major issues of concern. These toolkits, to be launched online over the next 12 weeks starting later this week, will help practitioners and organisations take practical steps to improve the health and wellbeing issues faced by the children and young people in their care.
“Last year’s Child of the North campaign shone a light on the true extent of the issues facing disadvantaged children and young people, from the autism and mental health crisis, to oral health, special needs, school attendance, vulnerability and crime,” comments Professor Mark Mon-Williams from the University of Leeds, “The action plans we created for policymakers have resulted in real change taking place. This year we have provided a series of toolkits for people on the ground, working directly with these children, to help them implement our recommendations and make changes that will improve outcomes for all children.”
“Tackling childhood inequalities benefits both young people and society as a whole. But we can only do this if we work together: the Child of the North campaign demonstrates the impact of research and innovation carried out with compassion, commitment and a collaborative spirit.”
Professor Shearer West, University of Leeds Vice-Chancellor and President
“Today’s report is both a warning and a call to action. It shows us that inequalities are widening, and that too many children are being failed before they even begin their school journey. But it also points to a better path—one in which we use the evidence we have, build on the successes of the Child of the North campaign, and match the Government’s ambition with real, sustained action. The future can be brighter, but that will only happen if we make children’s wellbeing, development, and readiness for school a national priority. Every child deserves to start school healthy, happy, and ready to learn. Anything less is a betrayal of their potential, and of our collective future.”
Baroness Anne Longfield, Centre for Young Lives founder and former Children’s Commissioner for England
You can hear more about some of the issues raised today at the National Opportunity Summit by listening to the University of Leeds’ latest podcast episode featuring a roundtable discussion with Professor Mon-Williams, Professor Cat Davies who is an international authority on early education and language development, and Professor Louise Tracey who is an expert in speech and communication.
You can also support the campaign by promoting the practitioner toolkits, sharing the material with colleagues and joining the conversation online.
#ChildrenFirst #NatOppSummit.
File downloads
Child of the North Education Equity Report 2025
- File name:
- CotN_Education-Equity-Report_2025.pdf
- File size:
- 5.09 MB
