Despite these alarming statistics, in global terms, British children are relatively privileged in that very few are seriously malnourished and all go to school. Nonetheless, children in the United Kingdom are not a highly regarded social group. Although the rate of child poverty has increased, the outcomes of child poverty have decreased. Research shows a definite relationship between child poverty outcomes, such as mortality and birth weight, and children's economic status and ethnicity. For example, although the general rate of mortality from accidents has decreased, accidental deaths are still the main cause of child deaths. More importantly, research shows that poor children are most likely to die on the roads and from accidents at home. Research also shows that part of the increase in low birth weight is associated with increased births among ethnic minorities and an increased ability to keep premature babies alive. For a long time, children's social well-being has been overlooked by British society. Today, the country is working to improve children's social status by first improving children's lives.

Attempts to protect child welfare began with those concerned with ensuring the child's physical and mental heath and safety in the family. For example, research shows that children's lives are drastically changed by their parents' divorce cases. As a result of these parental dispute cases, children are often forced to switch schools or be removed from their own homes and placed in foster care. The UK recognizes that children need to be protected in all circumstances and they work to ensure child welfare through the Children Act 1989.