Centre for Children and Families

Our work contributes to public understanding of key issues for children and families including early years and parenting, education and mental health.

NatCen’s Centre for Children and Families undertakes some of the most exciting and influential applied social research in the UK.

Our aim is to make a significant contribution to public understanding of key contemporary issues for children and families including early years and parenting, education and mental health, against a backdrop of significant challenges for children and young people.

In addition to being experts in their fields, researchers in the team bring a wealth of experience in a range of research methods, including survey design, data analysis, qualitative and participatory approaches. Working with specialists in our Evaluation team, we have a particularly strong track record of delivering high quality impact evaluations including both Randomised Control Trials and quasi-experimental approaches.

Our work

The Centre for Children and Families brings a wealth of specialist knowledge and long-standing expertise in topics including children’s social care, family justice, early intervention and youth offending, with an active focus on engagement and impact.

It offers research methods expertise in areas such as qualitative, area-based and participatory approaches, survey design and data analysis. In addition, it further develops NatCen’s expertise in delivering high-quality evaluations in this field.

Catch up with our latest work, blogs and events

Our team

The Centre for Children and Families brings together colleagues with expertise in social research and policymaking, building on NatCen’s track record of world-class research in this field. The Centre for Children and Families is shaping the debate on modern childhood, working with policy makers to identify evidence-based interventions that improve children’s and young people’s life chances