Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Sep 9

Phenomenal news - the birth cohorts are one of the UK's richest and most unique data resources.

I can't wait to see all the amazing evidence that we'll gain from this newest study!

UK Research and Innovation @ukri.org · Sep 9

Announcing Generation New Era: the first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years.

It will study 30,000 children born in 2026 across the four nations of the UK.

Watch out for upcoming opportunities for researchers and other stakeholders to engage with the study team via @clscohorts.bsky.social

UKRI announces first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years

A ground-breaking UK-wide scientific study will help improve the lives of future generations by studying 30,000 children born in 2026.

www.ukri.org

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UK Research and Innovation @ukri.org · Sep 9

Announcing Generation New Era: the first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years.

It will study 30,000 children born in 2026 across the four nations of the UK.

Watch out for upcoming opportunities for researchers and other stakeholders to engage with the study team via @clscohorts.bsky.social

UKRI announces first UK-wide birth cohort study in 25 years

A ground-breaking UK-wide scientific study will help improve the lives of future generations by studying 30,000 children born in 2026.

www.ukri.org

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Sep 5

NEW PODCAST: Are the kids ok? Family life

@helenmiller.bsky.social, @ckfarquharson.bsky.social and Anne Longfield explore family life in the UK, rising child poverty and pressures on social care in our 'Are the kids ok?' podcast mini-series.

🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/are...

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Aug 29

"There's been a really big increase in the share of children who are being identified as having special educational needs"

@ckfarquharson.bsky.social details the rise in special educational needs and its effect on schools.

🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/are...

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Aug 28

We recorded this episode this morning (!) and I came out full of excitement!

@helenmiller.bsky.social and I had a great conversation with Sir Philip Augar - we covered the design of the post-16 system, the gulf between higher and further education, and even some tentative signs of hope. Do listen!

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Aug 28

NEW PODCAST: Are The Kids OK? The College Years

@helenmiller.bsky.social, @ckfarquharson.bsky.social & Sir Philip Augar discuss how well England’s education system supports young people as they move into adulthood in our 'Are the kids OK?' series.

🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/are...

Are The Kids OK? The College Years (Episode 3) Episode cover. Lecture hall.

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Aug 28

NEW PODCAST: Are The Kids OK? The College Years

@helenmiller.bsky.social, @ckfarquharson.bsky.social & Sir Philip Augar discuss how well England’s education system supports young people as they move into adulthood in our 'Are the kids OK?' series.

🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/are...

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Aug 27

"Only way that you are going to make a significant difference in the life of a child under the age of two, is by working with parents"

@ckfarquharson.bsky.social argues effective early years policy must focus on working with parents and families.

🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/are...

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Aug 21

NEW PODCAST: Are the kids ok? The school years

Are England’s school children thriving, or are too many being left behind?

@helenmiller.bsky.social, @ckfarquharson.bsky.social & @samfr.bsky.social assess the state of England's schools in our podcast.

🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/are...

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Gavin Kelly @gavin-kelly.bsky.social · Aug 19

Panoramic conversation on early years policy - what do we know & where should policy go.

With the excellent @careyoppenheim.bsky.social @ckfarquharson.bsky.social & @helenmiller.bsky.social

open.spotify.com/episode/00sX...

Are The Kids OK? The Early Years (Episode 1)

IFS Zooms In: The Economy · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Peter Walker @peterwalker99.bsky.social · Jul 7

NEW: Labour will aim to embed a Sure Start-type system of help for deprived children and families so deeply and completely into the state that a future Reform government would not be able to dismantle it, Bridget Phillipson has pledged.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Labour vows to protect Sure Start-type system from any future Reform assault

Exclusive: Education secretary says scheme will be so deeply embedded that no rightwing party can unpick it

www.theguardian.com

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jul 6

In light of today's announcements on Family Hubs, this @theifs.bsky.social podcast is looking even more timely!

A great discussion with @officialedballs.bsky.social and @pjtheeconomist.bsky.social on the benefits of Sure Start and the political economy of keeping early childhood programmes going.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Jun 26

NEW PODCAST: The policy that changed childhood in the UK

@pjtheeconomist.bsky.social is joined by @ckfarquharson.bsky.social and @officialedballs.bsky.social to explore the impact and legacy of Sure Start.

🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/pol...

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Jun 26

NEW PODCAST: The policy that changed childhood in the UK

@pjtheeconomist.bsky.social is joined by @ckfarquharson.bsky.social and @officialedballs.bsky.social to explore the impact and legacy of Sure Start.

🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/pol...

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Hannah White @drhannahwhite.bsky.social · Jun 26

“This new guidance will damage the quality of government and public discourse.” Important new comment from me and @alexgathomas.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

The government should not ban public servants from speaking in public | Institute for Government

New guidance will damage the quality of government and public discourse.

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

Thanks to @nuffieldfoundation.org for supporting much of the work that made this analysis possible - not something you want to tackle from scratch on Spending Review night!

ifs.org.uk/articles/pop...

New childcare entitlements have proven popular – meaning spending from 2026 onwards could be £1 billion higher than originally forecast.

ifs.org.uk

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

What is clear is that higher-than-expected take-up = higher-than-expected costs.
Meeting childcare commitments looks much more expensive than we had thought in March 2023.
That adds to the pressure on other public services.

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

So where does that leave us?
Childcare entitlements are really popular.
Could be great news - if it's driven by more parents in work. But it's still too early to tell.

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

The Spending Review announced that spending would rise by £1.6bn in cash terms over the SR.

A bit over half of this reflects the entitlement rollout anticipated in March 2023.

But there's ~£600m to top up spending. That will meet most, but not all, of the spending pressures.

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

But - when these entitlements were first announced in March 2023, then-Chancellor Jeremy Hunt planned to spend £4bn a year from 2026-27 onwards.

So the long-term cost of childcare entitlements is on track to be £1 billion (!!) higher than we had originally thought.

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

A reasonable forecast for spending from 2026-27 onwards - once entitlements are fully rolled out - is around £5bn in today's prices.

Could easily end up several hundred million lower or higher.

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

But childcare entitlements are being rolled out over time. So the same % underestimate of take-up becomes a bigger deal in £ over time, as it applies to more hours.

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

Side note: almost all local authorities saw higher-than-expected take-up last year.

The exceptions were (almost) all in London, where there is some evidence that eligible and interested parents are less likely to actually find a childcare spot. Might point to capacity issues?

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

But we've already seen a BIG upwards revision in spending plans for 2024-25, driven by a big increase in expected take-up.

We now think spending on new entitlements last year was £500m - 28%!! - higher than we had thought in December 2023.

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

Forecasting demand for new childcare entitlements for working parents with kids under 3 was always going to be hard.

Depends on:
* how many families are eligible
* how many families will move into paid work so they become eligible
* take-up amongst eligible families

Difficult!

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

There are two issues here:
1) The big in-year revisions to spending we have already seen (for 2024-25)
2) What higher-than-expected take-up might mean for costs in future years, once entitlements are fully rolled out

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 12

Spending on the new childcare entitlements next year could be £1bn higher than initially forecast in March 2023 - a 25% increase.

So what's going on? I break down the numbers that @pjtheeconomist.bsky.social and @maxwarner.bsky.social set out in @theifs.bsky.social post-Spending Review briefing.

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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · Jun 12

Administration budgets are set to be squeezed.

Efficiency savings would be good and needed, but it's odd that the government thinks the scope for savings is almost identical across every area, regardless of whether these departments are priority areas or not...

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 9

Super useful from @lukesibieta.bsky.social on school funding choices.

Protecting the total core schools budget means real-terms spending per pupil will rise by around 3%.

We don't know anything on colleges yet - reminder that real-terms per-pupil protection there needs an extra £300m in today's £.

Luke Sibieta @lukesibieta.bsky.social · Jun 9

What does £4.5 billion extra for schools in England mean?

My guess is that this is a real-terms freeze in the core schools budget plus some extra money for free school meals

This thread explains why 🧵[1/6]

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

@theifs.bsky.social @nuffieldfoundation.org

Surprise extra £4.5bn for schools as Reeves goes to wire ...

More money for SEND reforms and teachers’ pay while health and defence are big winners in spending review

observer.co.uk

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Luke Sibieta @lukesibieta.bsky.social · Jun 9

What does £4.5 billion extra for schools in England mean?

My guess is that this is a real-terms freeze in the core schools budget plus some extra money for free school meals

This thread explains why 🧵[1/6]

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

@theifs.bsky.social @nuffieldfoundation.org

Surprise extra £4.5bn for schools as Reeves goes to wire ...

More money for SEND reforms and teachers’ pay while health and defence are big winners in spending review

observer.co.uk

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 4

Still hungry for more?

Check out our response to today's announcement here: ifs.org.uk/articles/ben...

And our @theifs.bsky.social's report on all things free school meals, joint with Jonathan Cribb, @awmckendrick.bsky.social and Tom Waters: ifs.org.uk/publications...

The policy menu for school lunches: options and trade-offs in expanding free school meals in England | Institute for Fiscal Studies

The expansion of free school meals has been frequently discussed. IFS researchers consider the costs and benefits of different options.

ifs.org.uk

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Christine Farquharson @ckfarquharson.bsky.social · Jun 4

And speaking of funding - schools are expecting to get £2.61 per meal.

If funding had risen in line with inflation after universal infant FSM were introduced in 2014, that would be around £3.18 per meal.

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