Child Development and Policy Interventions (an IFS briefing as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science)

On 5 November 2014, the British Academy hosted an Institute for Fiscal Studies briefing on Child Development and Policy Intervention.

The first years of a child’s life lay the basis for lifelong outcomes. During this vital period, though, many children are exposed to poverty, malnutrition, illnesses and un-stimulating home environments, which have a detrimental effect on their cognitive, motor, and social-emotional development, as well as on their health, thus prohibiting them from reaching their full developmental potential. This period of early childhood is therefore a critically important one for intervention.

We firstly presented research on whether and how policy interventions affecting the early childhood environment influence child development in the early years. It drew on research conducted in developing and developed country contexts including Colombia, the UK and Netherlands. It concluded with a panel discussion, with opportunities for questions from the audience.

This session took place as part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science.