Sophie Metcalfe
Former Senior Researcher
Sophie's recent work
All work
Insights from early years settings
What government can learn from effective frontline practice for boys from low-income families.
Early years policy making: How can government ensure that boys from low-income families are not left behind during delivery?
The government’s early years target is doing little to incentivise the system to focus on boys from low-income families.
Ten things we learned from the King’s Speech 2026
What did the King’s Speech tell us about the government’s priorities for the new session?
Leasehold reform is an opportunity to set a better record on housing regulation
The government has a chance to show housing regulations can be made to work.
Policy making blind spots: Why some children are left behind from the start
The systemic policy-making failures that have contributed to a sharp ‘cliff-edge’ in attainment levels.
Three things the government needs to do to make the child poverty strategy work
The child poverty strategy is a concrete shift towards prevention but ministers must take action to implement it effectively.
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.
Labour’s Best Start in Life Strategy has got off to a good start – now comes the hard part
The government’s early years strategy signals strong intent, but will require confident, careful steering to make it a reality.
Five key changes set out in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
What is the potential impact of the government's planning bill?
Who is most at risk of not being school ready?
How can government start closing the opportunity gap in early years education?