| Abstract: |
Children of the 2020s (COT20s) is the first birth cohort study in England in two decades. It aims to longitudinally measure and track the circumstances and outcomes of babies, and their families, over the first 5 years of life, to provide a rich source of data for researchers and policy makers relating to early learning and development, early childhood education and care (ECEC), and family services. COT20s is the first study in the Department for Education's (DfE) longitudinal research programme collectively referred to as the Education and Outcomes Panel Studies (EOPS). These studies will generate evidence on the progress of children through early years, primary and secondary school, and the post-16 period, with data collection continuing until the end of the decade. The first survey of the COT20s study took place in the second half of 2022 when the children were on average 9.5 months old. At this time, England was adjusting to post-pandemic life and facing significant cost of living pressures. This report provides a baseline description of the cohort and begins to identify demographic disparities in early life such as in health, childcare, the home environment and service use that might lead to longer-term disadvantages in children's learning and wellbeing. COT20s participants will be recontacted annually and invited to take part in further waves of data collection when their children are aged 2, 3, 4 and 5 years. |