Read the full debate here. My Lords, some children who have been out of school for such a long time
Category: APPG on a Fit and Healthy Childhood – Documents and Links
Short articles, news updates and opinion pieces relating to a Fit & Healthy Childhood. Contact Helen West if you would like to contribute.
Helen Clark Writes in Nursery Management Today – Let a Fairer Deal for Children be a Legacy of COVID-19
Our Lead Author, Helen Clark, has an article in the latest issue of Nursery Management Today, in which she writes:
The Impact of COVID-19 on Children’s Mental Health – Reply from the Secretary of State for Education to Dr Lisa Cameron MP
You may remember back in May that Dr Lisa Cameron and 65 fellow MPs wrote to Gavin Williamson about the
The Effect of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Children’s mental Health and a New Early Day Motion – helen Clark Writes
In the December 2019 Queen’s Speech, Boris Johnson announced his intention to reform the 30-year-old 1989 Mental Health Act during
New Campaign Pressing for Summer Holiday Food Provision to be Made Permanent
The Children First Alliance was delighted when, following the boost given by the intervention of Marcus Rashford and the appearance
Dr Aric Sigman on the Effects of Parental Drinking on their children’s future drinking behaviour
The British Medical Journal (BMJ) asked Dr Aric Sigman to summarise his response to a May article about Covid-19 and
Dr Eunice Lumsden, Head of Early Years at the University of Northampton, calls for a new reality in Early Childhood, Education and Care
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing
25/06/20 – The Early Years is the Forgotten Sector, Writes Shannon Pite of the Early Years Alliance
The Forgotten Sector report Early years membership organisation the Early Years Alliance has published a new report, The Forgotten Sector, which
23/06/20 – Playgrounds to Re-Open at Last – Helen Clark Writes
Helen Clark, APPG Lead Author, has welcomed the announcement today that Prime Minster Boris Johnson is releasing the nation’s children
22/06/20 – risks for children relative to Covid-19 – Robin Sutcliffe of the Children’s Play Policy Forum Writes
At this crucial stage in the Covid-19 lockdown there has been a lack of clarity on the statistics relating to
16/06/20 -Victory in the #SchoolmEALS4summer campaign – Phil Royal Writes
A fantastic victory has been achieved with Government forced to continue school meal vouchers through the summer holidays! Many organisations
12/06/20 – Summer Holiday Food Provision – Join In the online “march”
You have no doubt seen and heard a lot of mention in the news and online about summer holiday food
12/06/20 – An Open Call from Sport England for Innovative Ideas
Sport England’s research shows major inequalities within society, with too many of us not able to access activity in the same
10/06/20 – A New Organisation for Primary Physical Education has been Launched – Dr Victoria Randall of the University of Winchester Writes
Primary Physical Education has become a growing area of political, societal and professional interest over recent years, with the important
07/06/20 – The First 1001 Days Movement Calls for a Cabinet Minister for Children
This week is Infant Mental Health Awareness Week. Leaders of nearly 80 organisations, under the banner of the First 1001
04/06/20 – When Can Children Play Out Again? The API Writes to the PM
As we learn the lessons from COVID-19, I hope that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will kick-start his new-found zeal to
28/05/20 – Dr Aric Sigman writes about the effects of parents’ drinking on children
This is an edited version of Dr Aric Sigman’s response to an article in the British Medical Journal. In their
21/05/20 – Update on the Letter to Gavin Williamson from Dr Lisa Cameron MP – Helen clark Writes
As we mentioned on Monday, Dr Lisa Cameron MP has sent a letter signed by 65 MPs and Peers to
18/05/20 – Mental Health Awareness Week : but new survey shows one in four children and young people with mental health problems can’t get help – Helen Clark Writes
This is Mental Heath Awareness Week and this year’s theme is ‘Be Kind.’ But the words are bound to feel
16/05/20 – Royal College of Psychiatrists say that COVID-19 effect will see mental health services ‘overwhelmed’ without urgent financial investment – HELEN CLARK WRITES
The Royal College of Psychiatrists have said that with inadequate current resources and no guarantee of future urgent financial investment
15/05/20 – Prime Minister announces new ‘interventionist’ approach to tackle obesity – Helen clark writes
Following his own serious brush with COVID-19, the Prime Minister is said to have demanded a new serious approach to
14/05/20 – When can our children go out to play? Ask the Government to set the date!
Today, APPG member organisation the Association of Play Industries (API) issued a statement following our response yesterday to their original
13/05/20 – Experts in ‘The Lancet’ call for a public health approach to manage domestic violence in the wake of COVID-19 – Helen Clark Writes
An article in ‘The Lancet’ argues that measures adopted by the UK and other countries in response to the COVID-19
13/05/20 – Play again ignored by the Government in its ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown – Helen Clark Writes
As commentators, experts and members of the public pore over the Government’s eagerly awaited ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown – play,
12/05/20 – summer Holiday Hunger – Paul Wright of Children First writes
How can we make a difference while in this Pandemic ‘holding pattern’? We can hit a like button on social
08/05/20 – Prioritising play when schools re-open will help children’s mental health say experts – Helen Clark Writes
Mental health experts have asked Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, to encourage teachers to prioritise play when the Government gives the
04/05/20 – OUTDOOR PLAY AND LEARNING (OPAL) CIC IS AWARDED £245,600 GROWTH FUNDING – Neil Coleman Writes
Sport England and The National Lottery has awarded OPAL 18 months of expansion funding. This grant will, between June 2020
03/05/20 – COVID-19, children and social and economic inequality – Helen Clark Writes
In April 2018, the APPG on A Fit and Healthy Childhood published ‘The Impact Of Social And Economic Inequalities On Children’s
30/04/20 – Vulnerable children are the hidden victims of this pandemic – Helen Clark Writes
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and consequent UK national lockdown, the APPG on A Fit and Healthy Childhood
30/04/20 – Some Key Aspects of the Domestic Abuse Bill that affect children – helen clark writes
The Domestic Abuse Bill cleared its Second Reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday 28th April.
28/04/20 – British Academy Funding Call – Special Research Grants: COVID-19
The British Academy is offering research grants of up to £10,000.
28/04/20 – Considering the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children’s Physical Education – Dan Wilson and Grant Huddlestone write
Yorkshire Sport Foundation have worked with The Association for Physical Education and the Youth Sport Trust to produce a series
28/04/20 – COVED-19 FactSheet from the Maternity Alliance on Rights and Benefits During Pregnancy and Maternity Leave – Helen Clark Writes
The Maternity Alliance has compiled a series of fact sheets consisting of frequently asked questions and answers on rights at
28/04/20 – GPs and Children’s Intensive Care Doctors Alerted That New ‘Coronavirus-Related Condition’ May Be Emerging in Children – Helen Clark Writes
An information note sent to doctors by the Paediatric Intensive Care Society (PICS) marked ‘significant alert’ and stating ‘please refer these children
22/04/20 – Government criticised for failure to safeguard children during coronavirus outbreak – Helen Clark Writes
Today, Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield, added to the growing number of critical voices aimed at the Government’s failure to highlight
21/04/20 – New Government cut to furlough funding sparks fears of mass nursery closures – Helen Clark Writes
Parents and Early Years sector workers nationwide have reacted with alarm to evidence that the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
21/04/20 – Coronavirus fears spark huge increase in child anxiety levels – Helen Clark Writes
Parliament resumes today and MPs, who will be adapting to new ways of working, have a first opportunity after the
19/04/20 – LOCKDOWN: BRING ON THE BOREDOM – Dr Aric Sigman Writes
If the lockdown had lyrics, for many children the chorus would be “I’m bored”. We’ve developed a keen sense of
19/04/20 – The Effect of Lockdown on Children – Helen Clark Writes
Despite their famed resilience and ability to ‘bounce back , a senior lecturer in psychology has told the TES that
18/04/20 – How Will The Pandemic Impact The Food Industry?
The environmental charity, Hubbub, has released some early findings about how the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to impact the food
17/04/20 – Vulnerable Children are Falling Through The Cracks – helen Clark Writes
The charity WellChild focuses on helping the families of children with the most complex and severe medical needs who are
15/04/20 – Deadly Childhood Diseases Given Unwelcome Boost as Coved-19 Fears Trigger Slump in Childhood Vaccinations
Scientists, paediatricians and Public Health England have warned parents not to forego their child’s milestone vaccination cycles because of the
11/04/20 – New Research Seeks to Tackle Impact of COVID-19 on Young People’s Mental Health – Helen Clark writes
The University of Oxford has set up a research project, aiming to track children and young people’s mental health throughout
10/04/20 – Covid-19 advice From Great Ormond Street for Children, Young People and Families
The APPG on a Fit and Healthy Childhood today wishes to thank Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children for producing ‘Coronavirus
10/04/20 – The First 1001 Days Campaign’s Statement on Covid-19 – Helen Clark Writes
As the UK remains in the grip of COVID-19 and the Government issues daily advice to the nation at its
09/04/20 – worrying numbers of Vulnerable Children are not attending school – Helen Clark Writes
Children are the forgotten victims of COVID-19 and today, Simon Bailey who leads for the National Police Chiefs’ Council on