Frequently Asked Questions: Taking Part
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Why should I take part?
By taking part in Children of the 2020s, you will be helping the Department for Education (DfE) understand what it is like for children growing up in the 2020s and how to best support children and families lead happier and healthier lives in the future. Don’t miss out on the chance to help shape future policies that will support children and families like yours!
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What will the study involve?
Children of the 2020s is an important longitudinal research study and you will be invited to take part in surveys at different points until your child turns 5 years old. These surveys will be in different formats, sometimes an interviewer will conduct an interview with you face-to-face in your home, the surveys may also be online or with an interviewer over the phone.
We will also invite you to take part in the BabySteps app (for more information about the app go to our Babysteps app page - see the app specific FAQS here).
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Can I stop taking part at any time?
Your participation is entirely voluntary, and you can withdraw your consent to take part at any time, without having to give a reason. You can choose not to do a survey and still be part of the Children of the 2020s study. If you wish to withdraw, contact us using the Freephone 0800 056 8184 or send us an email at children2020s@ipsos.com. Any data already collected will continue to be used unless you explicitly request that we delete it.
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If I miss one of the surveys, can I re-join later?
You must have taken part in the survey when your child was aged 9 months in order to be invited to take part at future stages of the study.
Your unique contribution is incredibly valuable so we do hope that you will take part. We’d like everyone to take part each time we get in touch with you. This is because the information you give us at each survey is even more valuable when we are able to link up the surveys up over time.
But it’s up to you to decide whether or not to take part each time. Once you have taken part in the first survey, if you miss a survey, you can still do the next one.
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How will the surveys take place?
In the Age 9 months survey, we invited you to either take part in-person with an Ipsos interviewer, or complete an online survey. If you were not comfortable with this, you took part via telephone or on MS Teams.
The Age 2 survey will take place online only. You will receive an email or a letter with the information you need to log on and complete the survey. You can complete the survey on your smartphone, tablet or laptop/computer and you do not need to complete it in one go. If you need to pause, you can return to where you left off using the same survey link and password.
Looking ahead, the Age 3 survey will be like the Age 9 months survey and take place in-person or online. More information on the Age 3 survey will be provided soon.
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How will I remember to take part?
Before each survey, we’ll write to you to tell you everything you need to know about what is involved. You might want to know when the survey is taking place, or how long it will take. We’ll always try to answer any questions you have. After each survey, we’ll write to thank you for taking part.
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What do I do if me or my child moves?
If you or your child move home, please let us know by emailing children2020s@ipsos.com or leaving a message on Freephone 0800 056 8184 (please note that calls from a landline are free but calls from mobiles may vary so please check with your provider) with the following information:
- Your name
- Your reference number (this can be found at the top of the letter you received about the study)
- Your new address and postcode
- Date of move