National Children's Bureau

18/06/2026

Supported accommodation can be an important part of the care system, but only if it is commissioned and used in ways that reflect young people’s needs rather than system pressures.

Bianca Karpf, NCB's Social Care Programme Lead, reflects on what new research by Kingston University and NCB (funded by NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) tells us about managing young people’s transition to supported accommodation, what good practice looks like and what actions can be taken 👇

17/06/2026

Supporting people in communities affected by violence: https://www.ncb.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/news-opinion/supporting-people-communities-affected-violence

Recent violence and unrest affecting children and families:

We have been deeply concerned by reports of racism, violence, intimidation and fear affecting children and families in Northern Ireland, as well as distressing events and misinformation in England following the recent trial relating to the death of Henry Nowak. These escalations come amid an already hostile political and social environment for Black and Global Majority communities.

As an organisation working across the UK, we stand in solidarity with colleagues, partners and communities affected. We recognise the fear and uncertainty that many are experiencing and the impact this has on children’s wellbeing, safety and rights.

At the heart of this are children and families whose safety and sense of belonging are being affected. We are dismayed by reports of Black and Global Majority families being targeted and displaced, and we are extremely concerned that children are not being adequately protected.

We strive to advance inclusivity, equity and diversity through our work at the National Children's Bureau and our NCB family - Anti-Bullying Alliance Council for Disabled Children Schools Wellbeing Partnership Research in Practice - including addressing misinformation and our commitment to becoming an anti-racist organisation.

We know many professionals across the children’s and adults’ workforce are working to support communities affected. We have brought together the following resources from across the NCB family to focus on violence prevention, supporting people at risk, practitioner wellbeing, trauma-informed leadership, and addressing systemic racism. https://www.ncb.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/news-opinion/supporting-people-communities-affected-violence

16/06/2026

While we are pleased to see the government’s recognition of the urgency in improving children's online safety and wellbeing, we are concerned that the proposals as stated do not do enough to keep all children and young people safe.

It is unacceptable that three years after the Online Safety Act 2023 children and young people continue to experience online bullying, abuse, and exposure to harmful content. In this context decisive action is needed to safeguard children, but we are concerned the social media ban for those under 16-years-old risks introducing a blunt tool that doesn’t tackle harmful platform design and won't keep all children and young people safe.

Read our full statement and recommendations in the comments 👇

15/06/2026

It's and this year’s theme is , highlighting the need for people with a learning disability to be seen, heard and valued.

To reflect this, we’re delighted to share an article by clinical psychologist Dr Layla Harding exploring attachment and caregiving in families with parental disabilities.

It offers a detailed insight into caregiving and family dynamics and sharing what it means for professionals working with mothers with a learning disability.

Research shows these parents are over-represented in child welfare systems, with international estimates suggesting that 40-60% of their children are removed from their care at some point.

While safeguarding concerns remain central, these figures raise important questions about how parenting capacity is assessed and how parents are supported.

Read the blog👇

12/06/2026

Join us to discuss how to create buy-in for strategic participation and advocate for youth voice to be heard at senior levels.

As part of the Department for Education-funded Making Participation Work programme, the Council for Disabled Children’s next Participation Community of Practice is taking place on Wednesday 24th June 2026.

The event brings together professionals and practitioners who are designing and delivering participation and co-production at a strategic level across children and young people’s health, education, and social care.

This event will focus on how to create buy-in for strategic participation with senior stakeholders.

Find out more and book your place at: https://buff.ly/N7ByBaq

11/06/2026

📢 New Supreme Court ruling on deprivation of liberty

On 2 June 2026, the UK Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment that reshapes how deprivation of liberty is defined in law.

The ruling replaces the long-standing ‘acid test’ with a new approach more closely aligned with European human rights law, with important implications for children’s social care, health, and wider practice.

Key impacts include:
• A narrower definition of deprivation of liberty
• Potential reduction in system pressures over time
• Immediate implementation, with no transition period

A new article from our colleagues at Research in Practice unpacks what this means for policy and practice.

👉 Read more: https://buff.ly/SRhFS1S

On 2 June 2026, the UK Supreme Court handed down a landmark judgment in A Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland [2026] UKSC 16. Melika Malone-Lee outlines the immediate and significant impact for practitioners across social care and health.

10/06/2026

A new report from PBE, commissioned by the Children’s Services Funding Alliance, reveals record spending of £14.7bn on children’s services in England (2024/25).

While increased investment presents a real opportunity, it’s clear services are entering this period under intense pressure. This report sets an important baseline for tracking whether new government funding can successfully rebalance the system towards early intervention over the next three years.

These findings are being discussed today at a special meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children, coordinated by NCB.

Find out more about the APPGC:
🔗 https://buff.ly/iToKxn5

10/06/2026

A new analysis published today by the Children’s Services Funding Alliance highlights how the cost of children’s social care is at record high after more than a decade of cuts to early intervention.

Leading children’s charities are calling for recent government investment to be used to fundamentally rebalance children’s services towards early support - as new analysis reveals the scale of financial pressure facing councils in England.

A new report by economic think tank PBE, commissioned by the Children’s Services Funding Alliance (including NCB, Action for Children, Barnardo’s, NSPCC, and The Children’s Society), shows local authorities spent a record £14.7 billion on children’s services in 2024/25.

While this increased investment presents a real opportunity, the analysis makes clear that the system is entering this period under significant strain.

Across the country, local services are grappling with rising demand, in part driven by factors like poverty and deprivation, housing and homelessness, and the unmet mental health needs of children, young people and parents.

At the same time, spending patterns have shifted dramatically. Investment in early help services has fallen by 40% between 2011 and 2025, with more than 80% of budgets now directed towards late intervention - including children entering care and other acute services.

This has created a system that is increasingly reactive rather than preventative.

Rebalancing the system towards early support is not just the right thing to do for children and families - it is essential for building a more sustainable and effective children’s services system.

https://www.ncb.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/news-opinion/cost-childrens-social-care-record-high-after-more-decade-cuts

10/06/2026

“It bears the authority of scholarship, and is an excellent book for teachers, social workers, nurses, administrators, and all those who work with people; it is exceptional value for students in training.”
This was how The Needs of Children, written by NCB's first Director Dr Mia Kellmer Pringle and published on this day 52 years ago, was reviewed upon its release by the Times Educational Supplement.
It’s a seminal text, commissioned by the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Security Sir Keith Joseph, and it remains a cornerstone of early years education, shaping how we understand and support child development, with a framework built around four fundamental needs: love and security, new experiences, praise and recognition, and responsibility.
NCB continues to play a key role creating, supporting and delivering evidence-informed initiatives to improve outcomes for children aged 0 to 5, partnering with local organisations to bring about change for young children through developing and delivering grant-funded projects.
Our Early Childhood Unit (ECU) also offers a range of training options for local authorities, early years settings and individuals, including Making it REAL, NCB’s most delivered training programme, which develops practitioner knowledge and expertise to support children’s early literacy and development, and Your Baby and You, a programme that helps parents support their baby’s development through everyday opportunities and play.
Find out more about ECU’s early years training programmes: https://buff.ly/aHv01Km
And learn more about Dr Kellmer Pringle and her impact on the development of child-centred policy and practice in our interactive journey through more 60 years of building better childhoods and brighter futures: https://buff.ly/vSQOE3J

09/06/2026

Join us for our next monthly Making Participation Work coffee morning on 17 June 2026.

Hosted by the Council for Disabled Children, these informal get-togethers aim to support practitioners in developing their participation and engagement practice when working with disabled children and young people and children and young people with special educational needs. These monthly sessions are an opportunity for practitioners to share best practice, take part in group discussions, ask questions, problem-solve, and network. Each month, we look at a different topic suggested by attendees from previous meetings.

In June’s coffee morning, we will be looking at online participation with disabled children and young people and children and young people with special educational needs.

Join us for our next monthly Shared Support coffee morning on 17 June 2026