A collaborative team of researchers led by Population Data Science at Swansea University has been awarded funding by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) to investigate the feasibility of a new longitudinal birth cohort study focusing on children at risk of poor outcomes.
Millions of children in the UK experience adversity early in life, impacting their long-term health and development. Despite their significant numbers, these children are generally absent from the UK’s world-leading portfolio of national longitudinal child development studies. This year-long project aims to address this critical gap by exploring the potential for a new study that will provide vital insights into the challenges faced by these young people.
Working in partnership with Cardiff University, the National Centre for Social Research (UK), University College London, and Ulster University, the project involves:
- Stakeholder Engagement: The project will scope scientific and policy evidence needs by engaging with policymakers, practitioners, and community stakeholders.
- Population and Sampling Strategies: The research team will conduct statistical analysis of UK administrative data and consult with data controllers to define a sampling strategy.
- Retention and Engagement: The study will review existing research and consult with care-experienced children and their families to refine retention and engagement strategies.
- Sample Size and Cost Estimation: The project will estimate the required sample sizes and associated costs of a longitudinal study for this population.
The project builds upon the team member’s parallel work, including the ESRC-funded Early Life Cohort Feasibility Study and an Administrative Data Research England Community Catalyst project aiming to provide national strategic leadership for administrative data and research in this field.
Rowena Bailey, Co-Investigator on the project, said: “Access to comprehensive and current national data is vital for understanding the challenges faced by some of the UK’s most vulnerable children.
Our team will use advanced data science techniques to analyse administrative records and assess the feasibility of different sampling, recruiting and retention methods. This work will be crucial in developing a robust evidence base to inform policies and interventions, ultimately improving outcomes for at-risk children.”
Professor Lucy Griffiths, project lead, added: “By working closely with policymakers, academics, and the community, our multidisciplinary team aims to create a blueprint for a UK-wide longitudinal birth cohort study that will make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children. Such a study would have the potential to transform our understanding of risk and prevention strategies, filling vital evidence gaps about effective service provision.”
The project has been funded by the ESRC Transforming Data Collections Infrastructure funding call.
The team includes: Lucy Griffiths, Grace Bailey and Rowena Bailey (Swansea University); Katie Harron, Richard Silverwood, Alissa Goodman, Alyce Raybould, Karen Dennison (University College London); Orla McBride (Ulster University); Jonathan Scourfield, Martin Elliott, Rachel Vaughan (Cardiff University); and Paul Bradshaw (National Centre for Social Research).
Project partner – Nuffield Family Justice Observatory.