.gif)
Department for Education
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Public consultation on how to raise standards and improve outcomes for children
A public consultation aimed at providing seamless services that meet the individual needs of children and their parents, was launched today by the Department for Education and Skills.
The guidance will help improve outcomes of children and is published jointly by Department for Education and Skills, Department for Work and Pensions, and Department of Health as it calls for closer working between local authorities, Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and Jobcentres Plus.
The Childcare Act 2006 introduced for the first time a duty on local authorities to improve the outcomes of all young children aged between 0-5 and reduce inequalities between them. This Early Years outcomes duty will make it a priority to reduce inequalities by focusing on children most at risk of poor outcomes because of deprivation and disadvantage.
Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said:
"Every child should be able to fulfil their potential, regardless of family income or background. Their experiences in the early years are all important in giving young children a sound basis so that they can take full advantage of later opportunities to learn and develop.
"This means that all children's services should be integrated at every level, from strategic planning through to front line delivery of services which maximise the benefits to children and their families - as we have already seen being put into action in Sure Start children's centres and extended primary schools."
Health Minister, Ivan Lewis, said:
"There are no second chances when it comes to children and it is vital that we get services right to ensure children have the best start in life. People now, quite rightly, expect their services to be delivered in a new way. They want services that are tailored to meet their needs, rather than having their needs shaped to match the services that are available. This consultation will help us raise standards and improve children's chances and I urge people to get involved and tell us their views."
Jim Murphy, Minister of State for Employment & Welfare Reform said:
"I welcome this consultation and the intentions behind it. Integrated early childhood services will play an important role in helping the Government to achieve its ambition to eradicate child poverty. And I am particularly pleased to note the involvement of Jobcentre Plus, which has a significant role to play within the delivery of integrated early childhood services, both in helping parents to find work, and through working with its partners to help parents to do the best for their children."
The Government's vision is for parents, from the time they know they are expecting a baby, to see a coherent pattern of accessible child health, early years provision and family support services ahead of them, some free at the point of delivery, some subsidised according to income.
The draft statutory guidance outlines what local authorities and their partners, Primary Care Trusts, Strategic Health Authorities and Jobcentre Plus should do to fulfil the duties set out in sections 1-4 of the Childcare Act 2006.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Early Years outcomes duty in the Childcare Act 2006, is a statutory duty on local authorities in England to improve the Every Child Matters outcomes for all young children aged 0-5 and reduce inequalities between them, through the planning and delivery of integrated early childhood services.
The five Every Child Matter outcomes are: being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution to society and enjoying social and economic well being.
PUBLIC ENQUIRIES: 0870 000 2288 info@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
INTERNET
ADDRESS : http://www.dfes.gov.uk
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/findoutmore
If you would like to receive email notification of new press notices in the subjects of your choice, please click on 'register' on our site: http://www.dfes.gov.uk, 'Latest News'.
