A plan for play - An Eye View Series report

There is a simple, inexpensive and joyful way to address many of the major challenges facing society and its children; addressing the alarming mental health crisis and obesity epidemic and helping to prepare children for an ever-changing work force. The solution that is all too often overlooked and neglected is - play. The right to play is so important that it is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Research documents its importance to every aspect of child health, development and wellbeing. Yet many children have little or no access to high quality play opportunities. Play provision should be considered in relation to every aspect of children’s lives – the design of their neighbourhoods, as well as within the services they access, such as child care centres, schools, hospitals, recreation facilities, parks and adventure playgrounds. Play cannot be relegated to the places and context that adults decide are appropriate It should be woven into the fabric of every aspect of children’s lives and the communities they are part of. Equitable access to play means reducing the insidious gradient of inequity that impacts children’s lives even before they are born and continues across their lifespan. Schools are one important venue to ensure equitable access to play. For some children, it will be the only opportunity they have for this nourishing and necessary activity. Play comprises a quarter of the school year, yet teachers and support staff receive no proper training or support to ensure that children in their care – our society’s future – have fulfilling play time. We know that early life experiences set the stage for the future, and that early intervention saves unquantifiable and unnecessary suffering and costs later on – for children, families and society as a whole. We owe it to children and ourselves both now and tomorrow, to make a plan for play that sees every child in every place playing every day. This report makes that case

Transmission of \u3cem\u3eMycobacterium Tuberculosis\u3c/em\u3e Associated with Failed Completion of Treatment for Latent Tuberculosis Infection - Chickasaw County, Mississippi, June 1999-March 2002

During June 1999-March 2002, a total of 16 tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported from Chickasaw County, Mississippi (2000 population: 19,440), corresponding to annual TB incidences of 20.5-27.6 cases per 100,000 population. In comparison, annual TB incidences for Mississippi during the same period decreased from 7.8 to 5.4 cases per 100,000 population. This report summarizes the results of an investigation of the patients and their contacts and demonstrates the need for strategies to increase the proportion of infection contacts that successfully complete treatment for latent TB infection (LTBI)

The instrument suite of the European Spallation Source

An overview is provided of the 15 neutron beam instruments making up the initial instrument suite of the European Spallation Source (ESS), and being made available to the neutron user community. The ESS neutron source consists of a high-power accelerator and target station, providing a unique long-pulse time structure of slow neutrons. The design considerations behind the time structure, moderator geometry and instrument layout are presented. The 15-instrument suite consists of two small-angle instruments, two reflectometers, an imaging beamline, two single-crystal diffractometers; one for macromolecular crystallography and one for magnetism, two powder diffractometers, and an engineering diffractometer, as well as an array of five inelastic instruments comprising two chopper spectrometers, an inverse-geometry single-crystal excitations spectrometer, an instrument for vibrational spectroscopy and a high-resolution backscattering spectrometer. The conceptual design, performance and scientific drivers of each of these instruments are described. All of the instruments are designed to provide breakthrough new scientific capability, not currently available at existing facilities, building on the inherent strengths of the ESS long-pulse neutron source of high flux, flexible resolution and large bandwidth. Each of them is predicted to provide world-leading performance at an accelerator power of 2 MW. This technical capability translates into a very broad range of scientific capabilities. The composition of the instrument suite has been chosen to maximise the breadth and depth of the scientific impact o

The Major Conditions Strategy - a 10 year Failure for Mental Health

This report produced by experts across the field and with direct experience of mental ill health will outline the current state of mental health in the UK, the impact of austerity measures and lack of investment, and the urgent need for long-term planning and sustainable solutions. We will explore the recommendations put forward by experts and stakeholders, emphasising the importance of early intervention, equitable access, integrated care, and a whole-society approach. Recommendations for a 10-year Mental Health Plan:- Prioritising prevention and increasing public awareness Facilitating early intervention and timely access to services Promoting integrated, holistic services and addressing health inequalities Guaranteeing sustainable funding for research, mental health services and workforce development Growing the workforce and capacity building Partnership working and dynamic collaboratio

Fair Play for Girls

‘Women’s sport has proven that it has the power to inspire people and positively impact lives.’ Holly Murdoch, FA Head of Operations for the Women’s Professional Games, 30 October 2023. On 23 December 2023, the UK Government backed the recommendations of former England and Great Britain professional footballer, Karen Carney in her independent review into the future of domestic women’s football. Culture Secretary, Lucy Frazer pledged: ‘We are completely committed to delivering equal access to sport for girls in schools, alongside an unprecedented £400 million investment in grassroots facilities outside of school.’2023 ended on a high when Mary Earps’ victory as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year notched up a consecutive hat trick in the history of the award, showing that far from ‘bottling it’ women’s football and indeed, sport for women and girls was ‘kicking on’ with confidence. The future seemed bright indeed ---- but was that the whole story? What cannot be denied is that the history of girls’ sport bears testimony to the resilience, progress and sheer determination of female athletes throughout the world. From overcoming societal barriers to achieving unprecedented success, girls’ sports have evolved into a powerful force for empowerment, equality and social change. However, this is set against a persistent backdrop of unequal provision and reward compared to what men and boys are accustomed to expect as their due. Gender inequality, limited resources and unequal pay continue to be reserved for the girls and in communities, schools and playgrounds in the UK’s cities, towns and villages, the experience of many of them is woeful. Too often (and especially in their teenage years) girls are deterred from physical activity and denied opportunities that might encourage them to make dreams of a sporting career a reality – or simply to see sport as an integral component of their daily lives. The Lionesses have made huge strides in smashing the barriers of prejudice and inequality and their determination to challenge stereotypes is not for themselves alone but on behalf of the generations of young women who will succeed them. They are trailblazers but they are also women and participation in elite sport is as helpful as a lifebelt in a tsunami in the face of misogyny

The Role of the Family in Early Years Education

INTRODUCTION: The important role of families in the early years Sue Atkins, an internationally recognised parenting expert, author and broadcaster, offers practical guidance on enabling children’s happiness, confidence and resilience from early to teenage years. Families play a critical role in the early years of a child’s life; a time when they are experiencing rapid growth and development in all areas including physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. The family is the primary source of a child’s support during this time and it is essential for parents and caregivers to provide a nurturing, safe and stable environment that fosters growth and development. Parents and caregivers can support children’s physical development by ensuring that they receive good nutrition, adequate sleep and opportunities for regular physical activity. They can also help children to develop their cognitive skills by providing for exploration, play and learning. This can include reading to children, engaging in age appropriate activities and encouraging a rich learning environment. In addition to supporting physical and cognitive development, families also play a critical role in children’s social and emotional development. By giving love, support and guidance, parents and caregivers help children to develop positive relationships with others, build self esteem and learn to regulate their emotions. Research has shown that children who have supportive families during their early years are more likely to progress academically and socially at later stages in their lives. Conversely, children who experience neglect or abuse during this time are more likely to struggle with physical, cognitive and mental health and social and emotional issues. Currently, support for families is very fragmented across the UK and often fails to reach the very families most in need of it. Therefore, it is crucial to offer practical, non-judgemental advice, support and guidance to parents in the early years of their child’s life. To conclude, families play an essential role in the earliest years of children’s lives. With love, support and guidance, parents and caregivers can help them to develop physically, cognitively, socially and emotionally. If families are enabled to prioritise their children’s wellbeing during this critical period, they will provide a strong foundation for their later happiness, healthiness and achievement. I am thrilled to introduce this ground breaking report; highlighting the essential significance of the family in a child’s early educational developmen

A Preconception Care Strategy

INTRODUCTION: Time to act Eric A. P. Steegers, gynaecologist, professor and chair Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam,The Netherlands Parental preconception health and the first 1,000 days of a child’s antenatal and postnatal life are main determinants of one’s later health, wellbeing and social opportunities. Fifteen years ago in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, poverty, deprivation and related toxic stress were identified, next to medical risks, as drivers of early life initiation of health inequities. Perinatal health heatmaps on a neighbourhood level in Dutch cities were then shared with local counsellors and subsequent national ministers of Health. This created a sense of urgency and resulted in the taking up of responsibility by local and national governments recognizing the public health importance of preconception and antenatal care and the opportunity to prevent further impact of the ‘poverty trap’ on future generations. During the next twenty years local programs in Rotterdam such as ‘Ready for a baby’ and the ‘Healthy Pregnancy for All’ program in seventeen other cities were initiated. The shared ambition was to combine efforts from the medical and social health domains. This was labelled as ‘social obstetrics’. Programs included pre- and interconception care and multidisciplinary risk assessment at pregnancy booking not only focused on medical risks but also at those related to lifestyle and nutrition, mental health and the social environment. Care pathways were developed tailored to the individual and neighbourhood. After the local counsellor of Rotterdam became national minister of Health in 2017, the Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport launched a nationwide action program entitled ‘Solid Start’. Building on the principles and know-how acquired through the previously mentioned programs, ‘Solid Start’ currently supports 285 out of the 340 Dutch municipalities in addressing health inequities before, during, and after pregnancy. Next to ‘social obstetrics’, preconception health is a key component of this Solid Start program. Small multi-agency conferences with professional organizations are being set up to tackle perceived barriers to implementing preconception health and care. They all gave their dedicated support to a pledge of the Ministry of Health on the importance of preconception health entitled ‘little effort, great impact’. Key is the One Key Question® approach (Stranger Hunter, 2017) at every available opportunity to improve both preconception care and contraceptive counselling by asking the question, ‘Do you plan to become pregnant in the next year? Lessons learned during this period of transitions were, among others, the need; a. to create a sense of urgency to improve preconception health as prevailing antenatal care systems do not optimise early development, b. that universities take up their responsibility for the ‘societal valorization of new knowledge’ for the benefit of the welfare, health and opportunities of the general population, c. to acknowledge the massive existing evidence of associations between preconception risks and adverse pregnancy outcomes and the (cost-) effectiveness of many related interventions available, d. to also tackle preconception non-medical risks in a context based manner, often related to poverty and e. that, in order to do so, new local and national governmental public health policies must be developed. Genuine partnership and communication are essential, both within and between countries. It is time to act

Adverse Childhood Experiences: Roads to Recovery

There is a strong correlation between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and a range of significant negative outcomes impacting the life course. Evidence has shown that adversities rarely occur in isolation. There is a graded dose-response relationship between ACEs in childhood and unfavourable life course outcomes but it is possible to both prevent their occurrence and mitigate their impact. However, although awareness is growing, ACEs have yet to be approached as a significant public health issue in the UK; assessment of their combined impact with other adverse experiences and circumstances is at best rudimentary and at population level, there is no co-ordinated strategy that is holistic, fully-inclusive in design and practice, and preventive rather than reactive. The chapters that follow examine ACEs from a variety of different perspectives but at the outset it is important to remember that public health policy is about people and in shaping it, there is no substitute for the lived experiences of those who have navigated the rough terrain of ACEs. MQ Mental Health Research: https://www.mqmentalhealth.org carried out a survey of its International Lived Experience Network and the responses received convey the deep-seated effects of ACEs but also the potential pathways to healing and reform. One individual recounts the profound impact of emotional neglect, stating: ‘I grew up with low social esteem following very heavy punishment and lack of emotional consideration as a child.’ Their transformation from a place of neglect to becoming ‘a vibrant person’ speaks to the potential of change following supportive interventions. Physical and emotional abuse alongside witnessing domestic violence is recounted by another respondent who shares: ‘Abuse fosters fear. Fear leads to cocooning oneself.’ And an individual with a background of various ACEs, including mental illness and substance misuse, illustrates the importance of addressing the intergenerational impact of trauma: ‘Trauma can be transmitted through parenting behaviours and family dynamics, perpetuating a cycle of adversity.’ The respondents’ voices are powerful, their experience diverse yet their message is unified: the UK Government must adopt a comprehensive, multi-faceted public health approach to ACEs. People who have suffered and are suffering from them are not just data points; they are a clarion call for change, a call that government is supremely qualified to answer. In summary therefore, ACEs, so often compartmentalised as a focus of individual and family tragedy, are ultimately a government responsibility. The ‘road to recovery’ will benefit us all and this report is a first step in defining what that road might be. While every ACE story is individual, the response is, and must be, collective. Their stories are our stories and their recovery will be our recovery too

A Plan for Play

This report is the fourth of a series from The All Party-Parliamentary Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood and although it stands alone in its own right, is best considered in that context. The recommendations within it contribute to our vision of ‘whole child’ health and wellbeing. ‘Play’ itself requires definition and has been interpreted in many ways by many different people and organisations. In essence it is what children freely choose to do when their time and ability to act are entirely their own. It may be what a child chooses to do when they are not under the control, overt or implied, of an adult. Many people regard play as a ‘process’ rather than an outcome. It has no defined purpose or agenda other than what is in the mind of the child at that moment. In reality, there are levels of ‘adult control’ depending on the situation, but what is most important is that no adult is at that moment, steering what is happening. Enablement of play through ‘light touch and design’ is a particular skill, as is play supervision if it is to remain ‘play’ rather than an adult-controlled activity of arguably less value