England | RCPCH

Resource

Statutory guidance for information sharing duty - consultation response

In July 2026, RCPCH responded to the Department for Education (DfE) consultation on the proposed statutory guidance for the information sharing duty introduced in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act. Our response focuses on the need for clear, consistent and practical guidance that supports pro...

Health policy

Safeguarding

Resource

Screen use by children aged 5 to 16 - consultation response

In June 2026, RCPCH responded to a Department for Education (DfE) call for evidence on screen use by children and young people aged 5–16 years. Our response draws on the views of more than 250 children and young people, alongside evidence gathered from paediatricians across the UK.

Digital health

Health policy

Wellbeing for children and young people

Course

How to Manage: When a child dies - the role of the paediatrician (Liverpool)

13 October 2026

Liverpool

All paediatricians will deal with children who die, whether this is sudden and unexpected or following a long illness. This course will help you understand the statutory processes and will share best practice to promote learning from deaths and how best to support families.

Child and adolescent mortality

Volunteering opportunity

Workforce and Recruitment Board: SAS Representative

Closing date

21 September 2026

In this new role, you'll give a voice to Specialist, Associate specialist and Specialty doctors in College discussions on medical workforce and recruitment. The Board works to ensure fair, robust and inclusive selection processes, embedding quality improvement.

Workforce

Volunteering opportunity

Clinical Lead for Exam Preparation

Closing date

21 September 2026

Review our exam preparation education programme for UK and international exam candidates, which includes both courses and online learning. Scope options to improve and expand this, ensuring the content is of the highest standard and in line with our exam syllabi. You'll sit on our Education and Lear...

Examinations

News

The UK is raising one of the unhealthiest generations in decades, paediatricians warn

14 July 2026

The UK now has some of the worst outcomes for children in Europe, with declining vaccination rates and rising asthma admissions and mental health disorders. Paediatricians warn that, without urgent action, the UK is on track to raise one of the unhealthiest generations of children in decades.

Document

State of Child Health 2026: Oral health

This indicator examines the rate of tooth decay by reporting the proportion of children aged 5 years with obvious tooth decay across England, Scotland and Wales. Data for Northern Ireland were last collected in 2018 and are not included.

Oral health

Health policy

Document

State of Child Health 2026: Obesity

This indicator looks at the prevalence of children across the UK who are overweight or obese when they start primary school compared to when they finish by measuring a child’s body mass index (BMI).

Document

State of Child Health 2026: Vaping and smoking

This indicator reports primarily on youth vaping trends by examining the proportion of children aged 15 who are e-cigarette users, including those who have ever tried an e-cigarette and those who currently vape, across the UK.

Resource

State of Child Health 2026: England - Quick read

State of Child Health 2026 provides a clear and comprehensive overview of children’s health across the UK, analysing progress against 12 key child health indicators. This quick read report summarises data and recommendations for England. Read on screen or download.

Health policy