Public consultation on
how to raise standards and improve outcomes for children
DEPARTMENT FOR
EDUCATION AND SKILLS News Release (2007/0089) issued by The
Government News Network on 23 May 2007
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.
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