Parents need more than Ofsted grades to identify childcare quality

A new study by Daycare Trust, the University of Oxford, and A+ Education concludes that Ofsted grades are too broad to provide a detailed measure of quality in childcare settings, and are best used alongside other existing quality assessments. The research was funded by the Nuffield foundation and is published today alongside a new guide for parents on how to identify high quality childcare.

Children whose second language is English do not have a negative impact on education outcomes of native English speakers

We should not be concerned about the growing proportion of children in England’s primary schools for whom languages other than English are their mother tongue. That is the conclusion of new research from the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) and funded by the Nuffield Foundation.

Nuffield Research Placement student Kirtana Vallabhaneni named Young Scientist of the Year

Congratulations to Nuffield Research Placement student Kirtana Vallabhaneni, who has won the Young Scientist of the Year competition. Winners of the competition were announced at the Big Bang Fair in Birmingham on Friday. 

Kirtana won the award for her project aimed at identifying the harmful cells that cause pancreatic cancer, undertaken on a Nuffield placement at the University of Liverpool. She is a student at West Kirby Grammar School.

No defamation claim should cost more than a home

The high cost of libel claims and the length of the legal progress is preventing both claimants and defendants from asserting their legal rights, according to a report published today by the Alternative Libel Project and funded by the Nuffield Foundation.

Increased levels of anxiety and depression as teenage experience changes over time

The experience of teenagers has changed considerably over the last 30-40 years, including a significant increase in the rate of anxiety, depression and behaviour problems according to new research from the Nuffield Foundation.

In addition to increased levels of anxiety and depression, today’s teenagers are more likely to be in education and less likely to be in paid employment than their counterparts in the 70s and 80s, leading to a longer and less structured period of adolescence.

Nuffield Council on Bioethics seeks views on new wave of brain technologies

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has launched a consultation on the ethics of new types of technologies and devices that ‘intervene’ in the brain, such as brain-computer interfaces, deep brain stimulation, and neural stem cell therapy.

Streetviolence.org - a new service to cut violent crime

The charity Witness Confident has launched Streetviolence.org, a new website to help cut violent crime.The site allows victims of street robberies and attacks to post witness appeals and warn their local community by pinpointing the crime on a Google map. People who witnessed the incident and are able to help can then get in touch with the right police team at the click of a button. 

Make the most of London Prepares with Nuffield STEM Games

On 16-19 February, top cyclists from around the world will be taking part in the UCI Track Cycling Cup as part of the London Prepares series. How different will their bicycles be to those used in Victorian times? Would current world records be possible on the velocipede or quadracycle?

Job vacancy: Communications Officer (maternity cover)

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is looking to recruit a Communications Officer to help disseminate and promote the work of the Council to a wide range of stakeholders, including policy makers, healthcare professionals, journalists and young people. 

Tasks could range from organising events and planning media campaigns, to producing the Council’s e-newsletter and editing the website.

Commission calls for emergency action on youth employment

Nuffield-funded research into young people's transitions from school to work has been influential in the ACEVO Commission on Youth Unemployment's conclusion that youth unemployment has reached emergency point. One in five young people are not in employment, education or training and a quarter of a million are unemployed for over a year.