UK Education Campaigns
National Literacy Campaigns
Mission
Improve literacy skills among children, young people, and adults.
Major Campaigns
- National Literacy Campaign
- Young Readers Programme
- Libraries for Primaries
- Early Words Matter
- Literacy Champions
Focus
- Reading attainment
- School readiness
- Family literacy
- Disadvantaged communities
Annual Campaign
One of the UK's largest education campaigns.
Goals
- Encourage reading for pleasure
- Increase book ownership
- Improve literacy engagement
Millions of children participate every year through schools and libraries.
Numeracy Campaigns
Mission
Increase confidence and skills in everyday mathematics.
Major Campaigns
- National Numeracy Day
- National Numeracy Challenge
- Number Confidence Campaigns
- Adult Numeracy Improvement Programmes
Focus
- Maths anxiety
- Adult numeracy
- School numeracy
- Workplace numeracy
National Numeracy aims to improve attitudes to maths and influence public policy around numeracy.
Speech and Language UK Campaigns
https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/
The Missing Million
Purpose:
Raises awareness that children and young people with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) are often overlooked in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reforms.
Key objectives:
- Increase recognition of DLD
- Improve access to support
- Influence SEND policy
- Ensure affected children are included in education reforms
Campaign link:
The Missing Million
Website summary:
"Children and young people with Developmental Language Disorder are being overlooked in plans for SEND reform – but we can change this."
Fight for Ordinary
Purpose:
Promotes practical, cost-effective approaches that improve outcomes for children with speech and language challenges.
Key objectives:
- Improve everyday experiences for children
- Reduce expensive crisis interventions
- Promote evidence-based support
- Encourage early intervention
Campaign link:
Fight for Ordinary
Focus:
Demonstrates how investing earlier can deliver better educational and social outcomes.
Transforming SEND
Purpose:
Advocates for a more inclusive Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system.
Key objectives:
- Ensure every child feels understood
- Improve SEND support in schools
- Influence education policy
- Promote inclusive learning environments
Campaign link:
Transforming SEND
Campaign vision:
"A future where every child feels understood at school."
A Perfect Storm
Purpose:
Highlights the relationship between speech and language difficulties and mental health challenges.
Key objectives:
- Increase awareness among schools and healthcare providers
- Improve mental health support
- Recognise communication difficulties as a risk factor
- Promote earlier intervention
Campaign link:
A Perfect Storm
Focus:
Mental health and speech and language challenges often overlap and require coordinated support.
Support Not Sanctions
Purpose:
Campaigns for fairer school behaviour systems for children with speech and language challenges.
Key objectives:
- Reduce unfair punishments
- Improve understanding among educators
- Create inclusive school policies
- Support communication needs
Campaign link:
Support Not Sanctions
Focus:
Creating a fairer education system for approximately two million children who struggle with communication.
Getting In Early
Purpose:
Promotes early identification and intervention for speech and language difficulties.
Key objectives:
- Improve outcomes through early support
- Equip teachers and early years staff
- Reduce long-term educational disadvantages
- Improve school readiness
Campaign link:
Getting In Early
Focus:
Early intervention programmes that can transform children's lives.
Major Historic Campaigns
1.7 Million Young Futures
Year: 2022
Purpose:
Research-led campaign highlighting that 1.7 million children were struggling with talking and understanding words.
Achievements:
- Surveyed more than 1,000 families and teachers
- National media coverage
- Called for better teacher training
- Promoted school-based support programmes
Campaign link:
1.7 Million Young Futures
Speaking Up for the Covid Generation
Year: 2021
Purpose:
Highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's speech and language development.
Key findings:
- Approximately 1.5 million children fell behind
- Teachers reported significant communication delays
- Called for targeted recovery support
Campaign link:
Speaking Up for the Covid Generation
Bercow: 10 Years On
Year: 2017
Purpose:
Reviewed progress since the original Bercow Report on speech, language and communication support.
Objectives:
- Assess implementation of recommendations
- Identify remaining gaps
- Influence future policy
Campaign link:
Bercow: 10 Years On
The Bercow Report
Year: 2008
Purpose:
A landmark review of services for children with speech and language challenges.
Impact:
- Increased national awareness
- Influenced government policy
- Helped establish the Communication Trust
- Became one of the most influential reports in the sector
Campaign link:
The Bercow Report Campaign History
SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Campaigns
Campaign Focus
- SEND legal rights
- Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
- School inclusion
- Parent advocacy
Campaign Areas
- SEND reform
- School accessibility
- EHCP protections
- Parent support
Recent national campaigns have opposed reductions in SEND legal protections and support rights.
School Attendance Campaigns
Department for Education Attendance Campaign
Main Message
"Every school day counts."
Focus
- Reducing persistent absence
- Mental health and attendance
- School engagement
- Academic outcomes
Attendance remains a major national education priority.
Founded
1960
Focus
- Fair access to education
- School accountability
- State education improvement
- Academy system scrutiny
CASE campaigns for a democratically accountable education system that works for all children.
Campaign Focus
- Reforming SATs testing
- Child wellbeing
- Alternative assessment methods
Supporters
Teachers, parents, academics, and education unions.
School Funding Campaigns
WorthLess? Campaign
Focus
- School funding
- Teacher resources
- Educational equality
Founded by headteachers campaigning for increased school budgets.
Focus
- School funding transparency
- Impact of budget reductions
- Teacher recruitment and retention
Teacher Support Campaigns
Campaign Areas
- Teacher wellbeing
- Mental health support
- Burnout prevention
- Workforce retention
National Education Union Campaigns
Focus
- Teacher pay
- School funding
- Workload reduction
- SEND support
- Child poverty
STEM Education Campaigns
Programmes
- STEM Ambassadors
- Computing education
- Science education
- Engineering engagement
Campaigns
- British Science Week
- CREST Awards
- Public engagement in science
Digital & Online Safety Education Campaigns
Focus
- Online safety
- Digital literacy
- Social media education
- Cyberbullying prevention
Campaigns
- Safer Internet Day UK
- Online citizenship
- Digital resilience
Careers & Social Mobility Campaigns
Focus
- Educational opportunity
- University access
- Social mobility
- Apprenticeships
Focus
- University access
- Academic support
- Mentoring
- Aspirational education
Mental Health & Education Campaigns
Education Campaigns
- Mental health in schools
- Exam stress
- Student wellbeing
- School support services
Campaigns
- Children's Mental Health Week
- School-based counselling
- Early intervention
