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Letting Children be Children I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the very real contribution made by previous reviewers: Professor David Buckingham and his team, Professor Tanya Byron, and Dr Linda Papadopoulos. It is upon their foundations that much of this present Review is based; and their constructive comments to me have been invaluable.

Patrick Barwise, James Best, Agnes Nairn, Sue Palmer, and Stewart Purvis have been the best of critical friends, fearless in their questioning, yet supportive and challenging. I thank them for all their efforts in this task. I have also greatly valued the support and encouragement of Rachel Aston, Laura Bedwell, Fleur Dorrell, and Fiona Thomas.

Thanks are due to the excellent team at the Department for Education: Louisa Ellisdon, John Hubbard, Joanna Leavesley, Gillian Machin, Catherine May, Helen Ralphson and Victoria Saunders, under the able leadership of Henry Watson, for their great commitment and energy. I have taken a team approach to conducting the Review, and this report is written from the perspective of us as a team.

Finally, I want to thank all those who contributed to the Review and, in particular, all those parents and children who have been so thoughtful and constructive in providing evidence. The children and young people who carried out research on their own initiative through the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England were especially impressive, and show so clearly that if we as parents can create the right environment in which our children can thrive, the future of all of us will be the better for it.

They make me believe it really is simple!

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