Inequalities in children and young people’s health and wellbeing
Key factors that have been identified as affecting inequalities in children and young people’s health and wellbeing and policies that have been targeted at reducing these inequalities during the last 20 years.
Your first task is to draw together key material that helps us understand why children’s health and wellbeing varies from individual to individual, and group to group. There is a vast amount of published material about the subject in general, as well as research and policy targeted at particular groups, health issues etc. Much of it is in research reports, strategies, government publications and literature reviews. No one person can possibly read everything that there is to know about this subject, unless that was their sole job, however, there are some important ‘seminal’ publications that have helped us to understand this issue and have influenced government policy.
These reports, proposals for action are designed to try and influence what governments decide to adopt as policy and invest resources in in order to reduce inequalities and safeguard the health and wellbeing of children and young people. Different governments have chosen different priorities depending on what they see as important, relevant, desirable and affordable. This decision-making can be very contentious, and many initiatives are short-lived, funded for a limited period of time, and then dismantled by the next government.
AIMS:
1. Critically evaluate how a child’s/young person’s health and well-being impacts upon their development, learning and life opportunities.
2. Critically discuss published research findings in relation to the nature, causes and consequences of inequalities in child health.
3. Examine the roles and responsibilities of professionals and agencies in the identification of and response to health, and wellbeing concerns affecting children and their families in a multi-agency context.
CORE Reading:
Brown, Z. & Ward, S. (Eds.) (2017). Contemporary issues in childhood: A bio-ecological approach. Routledge. [e-book]
Brown, Z., & Mander, S. (Eds.). (2020). Childhood well-being and resilience: Influences on educational outcomes. Routledge [e-book]
Children’s Society. (2020). The good childhood report 2020.
Department for Education. (2019 & 2020). State of the nation: Children and young people’s wellbeing: Research report.
Emond, A. (Ed.). (2019). Health for all children. (5th ed.). OUP. [e-book]
Greenwood, A. (2020). Understanding, nurturing and working effectively with vulnerable children in schools: ‘Why can’t you hear me?’. Routledge. [e-book]
HM Government. (2018). Working together to safeguard children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. from
Marmot, M. (2010). Fair society, healthy lives. Strategic review of health inequalities in England post-2010. (The Marmot Review).
Marmot, M. (2020). Health equity in England: The Marmot review 10 years on.
NHS. (2020). National study of health and wellbeing: Children and young people.
Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health (2020). State of child health.
Tucker, J. (Ed.). (2016). Improving children’s life chances. E-book available at
