Policy briefs

We work with our researchers to condense the latest research evidence into accessible, relevant and timely policy briefs.

Policy notes provide short two-page synopses, whereas our policy briefs provide slightly more in-depth treatments while still being concise.

Recent policy briefs

Early Childhood Education and Care provided sustained learning benefits during COVID-19. Policy note 10, 29 November 2023. New research shows that Early Childhood Education and Care attendance boosted preschool children's learning and preparedness for school in the year after the first COVID-19 lockdowns, with greater gains made by children from less advantaged backgrounds.
Unlocking private investment in soil carbon in England. Policy brief 11, 10 May 2023. It is difficult for farmers to enrol in both Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and emerging agricultural soil carbon markets. This policy brief looks at options to unlock private finance and increase soil carbon levels.
Reducing restrictive practices across health, education and criminal justice settings. Policy note 9, 4 November 2022. This policy note reports on the most effective interventions to reduce the use of restrictive practices, such as restraint or seclusion, in health, education and criminal justice settings.
Supporting movement skills to improve health and education in the population. Policy note 8, 3 November 2022. Children who are behind on their movement skills do worse at school and have poorer health. Movement skill tools have been developed that schools could use to tackle this issue, reducing the burden to the NHS, but schools need to be empowered to use them.
Fuel poverty in the cost of living crisis. Policy note 7, 1 November 2022. With rising energy and living costs, almost a quarter of UK households are now facing energy poverty. This policy note draws on a large body of evidence to summarise likely effects on households.

All policy briefs

Health

Reducing restrictive practices across health, education and criminal justice settings. Policy note 9, 4 November 2022. This policy note reports on the most effective interventions to reduce the use of restrictive practices, such as restraint or seclusion, in health, education and criminal justice settings.
Supporting movement skills to improve health and education in the population. Policy note 8, 3 November 2022. Children who are behind on their movement skills do worse at school and have poorer health. Movement skill tools have been developed that schools could use to tackle this issue, reducing the burden to the NHS, but schools need to be empowered to use them.
Protecting wellbeing and resilience in BAME families and communities during a public health emergency. Policy note 5, 15 June 2022. Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic families and communities were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. A framework is proposed to ensure responses to future public health emergencies are culturally competent.
UK screen use in 2022: A need for guidance. Policy brief 9, 10 March 2022. Policy brief on the rise in screen use by UK adults and how people think this has affected their health. It discusses the need for guidance on total daily screen time.
Supporting carers of people with a progressive neurological condition. Position statement 1, 11 January 2022. This position statement outlines five pillars of joint action to improve support for unpaid carers of people with a condition that affects the brain and gets worse over time.
Tackling childhood food poverty in the UK: Policy brief 4, 9 Dec 2020. Actions needed from national government and local authorities to reduce childhood food poverty where identified by a panel of experts.

Environment and climate change

Unlocking private investment in soil carbon in England. Policy brief 11, 10 May 2023. It is difficult for farmers to enrol in both Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and emerging agricultural soil carbon markets. This policy brief looks at options to unlock private finance and increase soil carbon levels.
Delivering a just transformation through the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture. Policy note 6, 25 October 2022. The Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) was established by the UNFCCC to address how agricultural transformation could aid tackling climate change. A review of KJWA discussions ahead of COP27 reveals important gaps in the efforts of KJWA to promote a socially and environmentally just transformation of agriculture.
Using geothermal mine water energy for food production. Policy note 4, 21 April 2022. Using geothermal energy from mine water for food production may increase food security in a low carbon way. An action plan to establish a pilot in Leeds has been developed with stakeholders.
Shared ground heat exchange for the decarbonisation of heat. Policy brief 10, 6 April 2022. Shared ground heat exchange can deliver low carbon heat where other options are not feasible, but they are not supported under current policy.
A practical approach to addressing barriers to national climate adaptation policy in the UK. Policy brief 8, 04 November 2021. Using a map of key barriers to the UK National Adaptation Programme (NAP), a practical approach to addressing these barriers is outlined.
Expanding the agricultural - sanitation circular economy: opportunities and benefits. Policy note 3, 14 September 2021. Policy note on how expanding the agriculture-sanitation circular economy can address multiple UN policy objectives, through the recovery of water, biomass, and nutrients from sewage at scale.
The path to a doughnut shaped recovery. Policy brief 5, 16 Dec 2020. This policy brief considers what it would take to use the doughnut economics model instead of GDP growth to guide our recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Supporting decision making for resilient net-zero infrastructure. Policy brief 3, 17 Nov 2020. New decision making approaches developed for infrastructure could help recovery from Covid and plan for climate change.
Using the underground to fight climate change. Policy brief 2, SRI 29. Sept 2020. Using mines or aquifers for heat and energy storage provides an opportunity for low carbon economic regeneration.
Growing a resilient food system in Leeds. Policy brief 1, SRI 28. Sept 2020. Leeds has many strengths and opportunities to develop a climate resilient food system, but leadership and vision are needed.

Food

Unlocking private investment in soil carbon in England. Policy brief 11, 10 May 2023. It is difficult for farmers to enrol in both Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and emerging agricultural soil carbon markets. This policy brief looks at options to unlock private finance and increase soil carbon levels.
Delivering a just transformation through the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture. Policy note 6, 25 October 2022. The Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA) was established by the UNFCCC to address how agricultural transformation could aid tackling climate change. A review of KJWA discussions ahead of COP27 reveals important gaps in the efforts of KJWA to promote a socially and environmentally just transformation of agriculture.
Using geothermal mine water energy for food production: Policy note 4, 21 April 2022. Using geothermal energy from mine water for food production may increase food security in a low carbon way. An action plan to establish a pilot in Leeds has been developed with stakeholders.
Expanding the agricultural - sanitation circular economy: opportunities and benefits. Policy note 3, 14 September 2021. Policy note on how expanding the agriculture-sanitation circular economy can address multiple UN policy objectives, through the recovery of water, biomass, and nutrients from sewage at scale.
Tackling childhood food poverty in the UK: Policy brief 4, 9 Dec 2020. Actions needed from national government and local authorities to reduce childhood food poverty where identified by a panel of experts.
Growing a resilient food system in Leeds: Policy brief 1, SRI 28. Sept 2020. Leeds has many strengths and opportunities to develop a climate resilient food system, but leadership and vision are needed.

Energy

Fuel poverty in the cost of living crisis. Policy note 7, 1 November 2022. With rising energy and living costs, almost a quarter of UK households are now facing energy poverty. This policy note draws on a large body of evidence to summarise likely effects on households.
Using geothermal mine water energy for food production: Policy note 4, 21 April 2022. Using geothermal energy from mine water for food production may increase food security in a low carbon way. An action plan to establish a pilot in Leeds has been developed with stakeholders.
Shared ground heat exchange for the decarbonisation of heat. Policy brief 10, 6 April 2022. Shared ground heat exchange can deliver low carbon heat where other options are not feasible, but they are not supported under current policy.
Developing UK strategy for nuclear SMRs. Policy brief 6, 6 Jan 2021. Nuclear Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) can play a role in UK decarbonisation. SMR investments are potentially more affordable and less risky, and may attract a range of investors. But the government needs a strategy to support UK SMRs.
Using the underground to fight climate change. Policy brief 2, SRI 29. Sept 2020. Using mines or aquifers for heat and energy storage provides an opportunity for low carbon economic regeneration.

Technology

Using geothermal mine water energy for food production. Policy note 4, 21 April 2022. Using geothermal energy from mine water for food production may increase food security in a low carbon way. An action plan to establish a pilot in Leeds has been developed with stakeholders.
Shared ground heat exchange for the decarbonisation of heat. Policy brief 10, 6 April 2022. Shared ground heat exchange can deliver low carbon heat where other options are not feasible, but they are not supported under current policy.
UK screen use in 2022: A need for guidance. Policy brief 9, 10 March 2022. Policy brief on the rise in screen use by UK adults and how people think this has affected their health. It discusses the need for guidance on total daily screen time.
Expanding the agricultural - sanitation circular economy: opportunities and benefits. Policy note 3, 14 September 2021. Policy note on how expanding the agriculture-sanitation circular economy can address multiple UN policy objectives, through the recovery of water, biomass, and nutrients from sewage at scale.
Developing UK strategy for nuclear SMRs. Policy brief 6, 6 Jan 2021. Nuclear Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) can play a role in UK decarbonisation. SMR investments are potentially more affordable and less risky, and may attract a range of investors. But the government needs a strategy to support UK SMRs.
Using the underground to fight climate change. Policy brief 2, SRI 29. Sept 2020. Using mines or aquifers for heat and energy storage provides an opportunity for low carbon economic regeneration.

Business and economy

The path to a doughnut shaped recovery. Policy brief 5, 16 Dec 2020. This policy brief considers what it would take to use the doughnut economics model instead of GDP growth to guide our recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Supporting decision making for resilient net-zero infrastructure. Policy brief 3, 17 Nov 2020. New decision making approaches developed for infrastructure could help recovery from Covid and plan for climate change.
Using the underground to fight climate change. Policy brief 2, SRI 29. Sept 2020. Using mines or aquifers for heat and energy storage provides an opportunity for low carbon economic regeneration.

Education

Early Childhood Education and Care provided sustained learning benefits during COVID-19. Policy note 10, 29 November 2023. New research shows that Early Childhood Education and Care attendance boosted preschool children's learning and preparedness for school in the year after the first COVID-19 lockdowns, with greater gains made by children from less advantaged backgrounds.
Reducing restrictive practices across health, education and criminal justice settings. Policy note 9, 4 November 2022. This policy note reports on the most effective interventions to reduce the use of restrictive practices, such as restraint or seclusion, in health, education and criminal justice settings.
Supporting movement skills to improve health and education in the population. Policy note 8, 3 November 2022. Children who are behind on their movement skills do worse at school and have poorer health. Movement skill tools have been developed that schools could use to tackle this issue, reducing the burden to the NHS, but schools need to be empowered to use them.
Boosting early years learning during COVID-19. Policy note 2, 25 May 2021. Children who attended Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) during lockdown gained greater language and thinking skills, particularly in children from less advantaged backgrounds. The Government should keep childcare open in the event of future lockdowns and remove barriers to access.
Tackling childhood food poverty in the UK. Policy brief 4, 9 Dec 2020. Actions needed from national government and local authorities to reduce childhood food poverty where identified by a panel of experts.
Post-16 maths for all: the role of Core Maths. Policy note 1. Sept 2020. A three year study on the uptake of Core Maths highlights that further support is needed to meet government ambitions.

Society

Reducing restrictive practices across health, education and criminal justice settings. Policy note 9, 4 November 2022. This policy note reports on the most effective interventions to reduce the use of restrictive practices, such as restraint or seclusion, in health, education and criminal justice settings.
Fuel poverty in the cost of living crisis. Policy note 7, 1 November 2022. With rising energy and living costs, almost a quarter of UK households are now facing energy poverty. This policy note draws on a large body of evidence to summarise likely effects on households.
Protecting wellbeing and resilience in BAME families and communities during a public health emergency. Policy note 5, 15 June 2022. Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic families and communities were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. A framework is proposed to ensure responses to future public health emergencies are culturally competent.
Supporting carers of people with a progressive neurological condition. Position statement 1, 11 January 2022. This position statement outlines five pillars of joint action to improve support for unpaid carers of people with a condition that affects the brain and gets worse over time.
Closure of EU Settlement Scheme risks leaving migrant Roma behind. Policy brief 7, 8 Jul 2021. Migrant Roma in the UK face post-deadline challenges following the closure of the EU Settlement Scheme and need continued frontline support to help them retain their rights to live and work in the UK.
Tackling childhood food poverty in the UK. Policy brief 4, 9 Dec 2020. Actions needed from national government and local authorities to reduce childhood food poverty where identified by a panel of experts.

Engaging with researchers

Each of our policy briefs contain links to their authors, University of Leeds academics who are experts in their field. If the information contained in one or more of these briefs is of interest, you can either contact the authors directly or email email Policy Leeds at policyleeds@leeds.ac.uk for the team to facilitate contact.

If you would like to engage with any University of Leeds academic around research-informed policy development, on a topic not listed above, please contact us with details of your requirements via email Policy Leeds at policyleeds@leeds.ac.uk