North Tyneside Ranked Among England's Best Places for Children to Grow Up

For families in North Shields, a new national report offers some welcome reassurance. North Tyneside, the borough that covers the town, has been placed 14th out of 153 local authority areas in England in the Children's Commissioner's study of what it is like to grow up in different parts of the country. That makes it the highest-placed area in the North East.

What the report looked at

The Childhood Lottery, published on 19 October 2026 by Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza, brings together 162 measures of children's lives. They cover health, education, safety and access to opportunities. The report's headline focus is on the hardest places to grow up, and it is meant to show how children's experiences differ by area rather than to grade councils.

North Tyneside scored 672 out of a possible 960, the highest score in the region.

Where the borough stood out

According to North Tyneside Council, the borough came:

• First in England for the proportion of schools with a dedicated member of staff supporting young carers
• Top 10 nationally for children feeling supported by their teachers, children having someone to talk to, access to Mental Health Support Teams in schools, and childhood vaccination coverage
• Top 20 nationally for adolescent vaccination uptake

Children in the borough were also more likely than many of their peers elsewhere to say they feel treated fairly, enjoy school, have things to do locally and believe they can make a difference on issues that matter to them.

What the council says

Elected Mayor of North Tyneside Karen Clark said the council has long wanted every child and young person to have "the best start in life", and credited the result to joint work by organisations across the borough. She also acknowledged there is more to do.

Why it matters locally

Rankings like this do not capture every family's experience, and pressures on household budgets and services remain real. But the findings on school support, mental health and young carers point to things that make a day-to-day difference for children in North Shields.

If you are looking for local options, see our guides to schools in North Shields, nurseries in North Shields and family activities in North Shields.