NEW REPORT | The opportunity gap facing boys from low-income families at age 5 and beyond Early attainment gaps mean some boys don't just start behind, they stay behind. @sophiemetcalfe.bsky.social @nehaldavison.bsky.social www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

As the covid inquiry gears up for Module 9 on economic policy, @gemmatetlow.bsky.social and I have a new @ukri.org-funded @instituteforgovernment.org.uk report out on Epi-econ modelling for pandemics. We set out why govt needs to invest now 1/🧵 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Very important new report from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk highlighting the challenges facing boys from low-income families. The research unpacks the reasons why they fall so far behind, and reiterates the need for action to tackle gaps in outcomes for this group ⤵️ www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Some disastrous numbers in this new IfG report. Less than half - half - of boys eligible for free school meals meet basic standards of early-years development.

Fascinating new report from my colleagues on how boys from low-income families are let down

Really excited to share this new report today by me & @sophiemetcalfe.bsky.social on the opportunity gap facing boys from low-income families at age 5 and beyond. Key findings 👇

NEW: Report from me and @nehaldavison.bsky.social on how and why boys from low-income families get left behind in their early years 🧵⬇️ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

Detail here on today's planning reforms: 1) Default permission for new homes "within reasonable walking distance" of train station, even on greenbelt 2) Government intervention if councils plan to refuse large sites 3) Review of statutory consultees questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...

This is a tragic, beautiful piece that highlights the brutal reality of life for many repeat offenders.

Reform-led Worcestershire County Council (WCC) have published a briefing about their financial position, explaining why they might have to raise council tax by 10% It's a pretty perfect encapsulation of the extreme financial pressures facing most local authorities Key points 👇

Some - cautious - good news on the govt’s civil service gagging rules Nick Thomas-Symonds has written to us rowing back on the worst aspects: “it is important for civil servants to speak in public about matters for which they have responsibility” www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/welc...

We've had a few surprising moves in this reshuffle so far - one of the big ones is Shabana Mahmood becoming home secretary. On our liveblog I've given a bit of an overview of what she'll face coming in: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/live-blog/st...

New blog from @nehaldavison.bsky.social and I reflecting on the Best Start in Life strategy. Interesting to see the govt signal it wants a bigger role in shaping the childcare market - there's a strong case for it, but it will be hard to do well and local areas will need the right support.

A mixed picture for the 'best start in life' strand of the Opportunities Mission in the SR today. Welcome news on investment in schools, but early years provision for 0-4yrs is comparably absent - surprising given the PfC milestone commitment for 75% of 5-yr-olds to be school ready by 2028.

Are you a commercially minded communicator with a passion for public policy? We are looking for a Senior Partnerships Officer to join our team. Applications are open until Sunday 8 June - find out more www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

It's been brilliant talking to lots of early years experts for this series - many thanks to everyone who kindly gave us their time. Excited to set out our plans for continuing this work here, with a particular focus on closing the early years opportunity gap for boys eligible for free school meals.

A big next step in the govt's Places for Growth strategy. With the right support, relocation can bring great benefits - see my write-up from visiting Sheffield policy campus here www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/shef...

Excellent new report from @instituteforgovernment.org.uk and @homelessnessimpact.bsky.social on how to take a preventative approach to homelessness. The govt's current approach is unsustainable. The spending review is a crucial opportunity to turn that around. Full report👇or read my🧵for a snippet

Enjoyed our Rewiring the State event this morning - lots to discuss, including our draft Civil Service Bill

Interested in joining the @instituteforgov.bsky.social? Our 2025-26 internship is now open for applications! Check out all the info at the link below

It’s time for my favourite video of the year Our wonderful interns talk about the @instituteforgov.bsky.social and encourage anyone interested to apply for this year’s round

Planning reform given big emphasis in Rachel Reeves' statement today, including key measures from last week's Planning and Infrastructure Bill. For a breakdown of 5 major changes, check out this recent blog from @sophiemetcalfe.bsky.social and me www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/five...

Check out @theipaper.com write-up of our report on school readiness - setting out which groups of children are falling furthest behind even at age 5, and what this means for the government's opportunities mission.

NEW report from me and @nehaldavison.bsky.social on school readiness: - Who is most at risk of not being school ready? - What does this mean for the govt's opportunities mission? Is the target for 75% of children to be 'school ready' helpful? 🧵⬇️ www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

A very big week for @instituteforgov.bsky.social and our Inside Briefing pod. We’re recording in Hull now and our instalment featuring the PM will land in your podcast feeds tonight.

Latest from me for @redbrickblog.bsky.social, setting out what the government needs to get right in its forthcoming housing strategy 🏘️

NEW from me and @rosahodgkin.bsky.social on govt's planning announcements over the last week TLDR: - lots welcome - how govt delivers these is important - private market expansion also relies on industry capacity (via interest rates, skills etc.) www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/gove...

EVENT: The future of the Civil Service Policy Profession 🗓️ Thursday 6 Feb, 10:00 Register to hear Tamara Finkelstein, Aaron Maniam, Lord Vallance discuss the Policy Profession and how to embed professional expertise in the policy-making process www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/civil-...

Delighted to see this very kind review of our work last year on housing, and it's in great company too www.insidehousing.co.uk/insight/the-...

🎙️Rachel Reeves takes a Gilt Trip.. A busy and brilliant @instituteforgov.bsky.social podcast with: @estwebber.bsky.social @drhannahwhite.bsky.social @timdurrant.bsky.social @gilesyb.bsky.social @jackworlidge.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/r...

Today we’ve published Whitehall Monitor, the IfG’s annual report looking at the shape and size of the civil service As well as incisive analysis on how the civil service is performing, it also contains loads of great data viz. A short thread on some of my highlights 🧵

ICYMI - new reflections from me on a fascinating trip to the Sheffield policy campus for @instituteforgov.bsky.social Some big successes on outreach and senior civil service presence, but further to go on joined-up and regionally collaborative policymaking.

A thought from me on the English Devolution White Paper out yesterday...

With thanks to the keen-eyed @milliemitchell.bsky.social for spotting, the government's devolution white paper confirms that it's planning for Spatial Development Strategies to apportion housing targets across constituent authorities.

Interesting to see this in the Plan for Change doc.

Latest from me for National Housing Federation on the government's forthcoming housing strategy - I see it as an opportunity to create some clarity and set out a credible delivery trajectory, in what we know is a difficult context. www.housing.org.uk/news-and-blo...

Today was housing minister Matthew Pennycook's first appearance in front of the housing, local government and communities select committee - to discuss the delivery trajectory for the government's 1.5 million homes in 5 years target. A few thoughts from me on this:

New Ministers Reflect interviews definitely worth a read - particularly the bits on sure start, really interesting on the challenges of cross-government policymaking!

Useful tool from @nestauk.bsky.social for policymakers here. We know lots about obesity's causes and costs, but assessing policy impact is harder - helpful to see the broad evidence base set out here. Also like that they split out impact, cost and evidence strength, making trade-offs clearer.

Brilliant to see our @instituteforgov.bsky.social report feature in this year's Thinkhouse list of 'must read' housing reports www.thinkhouse.org.uk/reports/2024/

"Nothing off the table" when it comes to reworking the centre of govt, according to news reports. If they're after ideas, Morgan McS and co could do worse than taking a look at the @instituteforgov.bsky.social Commission on the Centre for Government www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

NEW - Where will the Liberal Democrats position themselves on the government's housing plans? Comment from me reflecting on our @instituteforgov.bsky.social and Thakeham event at Lib Dem conference earlier this week

Had a great time speaking on this stellar panel yesterday. Huge thanks to the other panellists, and Thakeham for supporting the event. Check out the recording linked in the post below 🎤

Another excellent paper out today from my @instituteforgov.bsky.social colleagues on a very important topic

These 10 principles for helping the new UK government meet its housing targets seem pretty sensible. Fairly damning indictment of the last government that they were arguably failing on (almost) all of them.

NEW report: How can the government meet its housing targets? The latest in our chronic policy problem series - we look at why past governments have failed to meet their targets and 10 principles the government should follow to set a better record. www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...