Title: Millennium Cohort Study (MCS)
Funder: Department of Health and Social Care

Abstract: Background The project will cover the funding of a number of specific enhancements to the study, namely: · Enhanced sample of children living in disadvantaged areas · Exploration of the possibility of clinical record linkage · Health visitor survey · Small area data · Cognitive testing in connection with piloting for the surveys · Additional 15 minutes of interview time and an extension of the first pilot · 1,000 sample boost in Scotland in wave 1 · 1,500 sample boost in Wales in wave 1 · 500 sample boost in Northern Ireland in wave 1 In addition, the funds will cover analysis of the data and production of reports for the Departments, as set out in the research proposal in schedule 7, as well as a contribution towards the follow-up surveys. In addition, ONS will ensure that CLS consults the Sure Start Unit on the Question design and content and also during the production of the finished dataset. OUTPUT The main output from the MC will be a clean, linked, panel dataset deposited at the Data Archive. The CLS research team will give full support to other users of the data, including workshops, and will produce a report of basic analyses after each sweep. Aims HISTORIC PROJECT - Entire abstract transferred from the previous database into the [Scientific summary background] field of this database. Plan of Investigation HISTORIC PROJECT - Entire abstract transferred from the previous database into the [Scientific summary background] field of this database. Potential Impact HISTORIC PROJECT - Entire abstract transferred from the previous database into the [Scientific summary background] field of this database. Policy Relevance The project will cover the funding of a number of specific enhancements to the study, namely: · Enhanced sample of children living in disadvantaged areas · Exploration of the possibility of clinical record linkage · Health visitor survey · Small area data · Cognitive testing in connection with piloting for the surveys · Additional 15 minutes of interview time and an extension of the first pilot · 1,000 sample boost in Scotland in wave 1 · 1,500 sample boost in Wales in wave 1 · 500 sample boost in Northern Ireland in wave 1 In addition, the funds will cover analysis of the data and production of reports for the Departments, as set out in the research proposal in schedule 7, as well as a contribution towards the follow-up surveys. In addition, ONS will ensure that CLS consults the Sure Start Unit on the Question design and content and also during the production of the finished dataset. OUTPUT The main output from the MC will be a clean, linked, panel dataset deposited at the Data Archive. The CLS research team will give full support to other users of the data, including workshops, and will produce a report of basic analyses after each sweep.

Lay abstract: The Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) is a nationally representative survey of over 19,000 children born in the UK in 2000-01. Its importance lies in providing an unprecedentedly rich, UK-wide data resource to address key scientific and policy relevant questions relating to child development, and later consequences of early life experiences. MCS has visited the cohort families at ages 9 months, 3, 5, 7 and 11 years old. It will next visit them at age 14. The surveys include collection of direct physical measures and cognitive assessments, interviews with both parents, a teacher questionnaire, consents to data linkage and child questionnaires. Data are cleaned and documented and made available to the research community. The success of the study can be gleaned from advances of understanding in areas such as cognitive development and socio-economic gaps in attainment, long and short term predictors of later child and adult outcomes, trajectories of overweight, children's educational outcomes, children's health and development and the role of parenting and parental behaviours (including e.g. breast feeding) in children's well being. Its success can also be measured by the direct and indirect impact it has on policy and practice, some of which has been summarised in an impact evaluation of the study. The survey is carried out by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies (CLS) which has a wealth of experience in birth cohorts; and the MCS team has a track record in surveying children, including a focus on ethical approaches, survey methodology, and substantive research on the lifecourse, as well as in high quality data preparation, data documentation, weighting, and data linkage. Each sweep is subject to review and approval by an MREC.

Research activity codes: 2.6 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (AETIOLOGY)
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE