Meeting documents
Cabinet
Wednesday, 1st March, 2006
Children & Young People's Plan
2006-2009
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction to the development of the Children and Young People's Plan
Chapter 2 Vision, Values and Principles underpinning the Plan
Chapter 3 Analysis of needs and the Five Outcomes
Chapter 4 The Priorities for children and young people in Bath and North East Somerset.
Chapter 5 The Way Forward-how the Children and Young People's Plan will deliver on improved outcomes for all children and young people in Bath and North East Somerset.
Chapter 6 Resources to deliver the Plan
Chapter 7 Monitoring and Review of the Children and Young People's Plan
Appendices
1. Children & Young People's Plan linkages to other plans and strategies.
3. Consultation with children and young people in relation to the Children and Young People's Plan.
4. Consultation with parents and carers in relation to the Children & Young People's Plan.
5. List of contacts for each project/delivery group.
7. Table showing performance indicators against the five outcomes.
8. Proposed Children's Trust Arrangements diagram.
9. Glossary of terms in the plan.
CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
Welcome to Bath and North East Somerset first fully integrated Children's and Young Peoples Plan.
Bath and North East Somerset is a Unitary Authority serving a population of some 173,000, about half of whom live in the City of Bath, the rest in towns and villages in the more rural parts of the Authority. An area of relative affluence overall, there are pockets of significant deprivation where children and young people are an obvious priority for the Children and Young People's Plan. The Authority has a relatively small black and ethnic minority population of about 2.7%.There are established effective partnerships between Health, Social Services, Education and the police with schools and all voluntary and statutory agencies across Bath and North East Somerset.
The Children Act 2004 requires significant changes to enable all agencies and carers to work together to meet the needs of all children and young people and identifies five outcomes for them:
76 Stay Safe
76 Be Healthy
76 Enjoy and Achieve
76 Achieve Economic Well-being
76 Make a Positive Contribution
The Act confirmed proposals in the earlier green paper `Every Child Matters' to integrate and develop collaborative, multi-disciplinary working in children's services, improve information sharing, accountability and governance arrangements. It reinforces the duty to co-operate to improve the well being and safeguarding of all children and the responsibility of all specifically in respect of children who are looked after.
It also required each local authority to have an integrated' Children and Young People's Plan' to detail how services will be delivered in a joined-up, integrated, multi-agency manner for children and young people aged 0-19 years. The plan must highlight our vision and priorities and what actions will be undertaken to improve the five outcomes over the next 3 years. The plan will respond to what children, young people and parents and carers have told us they think are the most important things for Bath and North East Somerset. Appendix 1 shows how this overarching plan relates to other plans and strategies for children & young people's services.
The Children and Young People's Plan for Bath and North East Somerset has been developed from our Local Preventative Strategy.
Local Preventative Strategy (LPS)
In September 2002 Chief Executives of Councils were asked to take a lead in ensuring that all those responsible for planning, commissioning and delivering services for children and young people agreed a Local Preventative Strategy from April 2003. Within Bath and North East Somerset, the responsibility of developing that strategy has been delegated to the Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership (C&YPSP), a partnership of local statutory, voluntary and community organisations working with children, young people and families.
The Local Preventative Strategy addresses the recommendations in' Every Child Matters' and principles and recommendations of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Children and Maternity Services published in September 2004.The purpose of the strategy is to improve the well-being of children and young people by creating a shared vision, framework and comprehensive delivery plan that will form the basis for the development and delivery of all services for children and young people in Bath and North East Somerset.
Within the development of the LPS for Bath and North East Somerset, prevention has been interpreted as 93the promotion of child well-being by enabling children and young people to develop their full potential, and the promotion of family well-being by enabling parents/carers to meet the overall needs of their children and families94.
The Local Preventative Strategy was endorsed by the Council Executive and links with the Local Strategic Partnership and the ambitions of the Community Strategy across Bath and North East Somerset. The responsibility for producing the Children and Young People's Plan was delegated to the Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership.
How the Local Preventative Strategy was developed
A more detailed chronology is provided at Appendix 2.The Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership considered the government guidance in September 2002. The guidance required the self assessment and analysis of service gaps, focused on the agreement of shared objectives, priorities and areas for improvement and the development of systems for identification, referral and tracking of children at risk. This provided the basis for the development of the Local Preventative Strategy.
The Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership developed the detail of the strategy through a series of workshops. The outcomes were a collation of potential ideas and actions to promote children's health and well-being. These were reviewed and a number of strategic themes and actions identified. Delivery plans have been developed and implemented to progress these activities.
The Council and its partners considered these at the Change for Children Steering Group and at a multi-agency workshop for staff. From these discussions, draft local priorities were discussed with the Regional Change Adviser, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) Business Relationship Manager, and the DfES Children's Services at the Priority Conversation in Spring 2005.
The Change for Children Steering Group then agreed the draft local priorities and the process for wide consultation. In general this consultation indicated that the draft local priorities were welcomed and relevant. It was agreed that the local priorities should be put within the context of a vision statement and be aligned with the objectives of the Local Preventative Strategy.
A sub-group of the Children and Young People Strategic Partnership has developed the Children and Young People's Plan. A comprehensive consultation process, undertaken from September to December 2005, culminated in 1,000 children and young people feeding into the plan itself. Children and Young People produced an alternative wording for the 93vision94 which has been included in the plan. All parent groups across Health, Education and Social Care were consulted on the vision and priorities indicated in the plan and their feedback integrated into the plan. (See Appendix 3 and 4 respectively)
The plan is intended to provide clear direction to all staff and agencies working with children, young people, parents and carers, to achieve the local priorities for children and young people.
CHAPTER TWO
Vision, Values and Principles
The vision of `Every Child Matters' as enshrined within the Children Act 2004, is to provide a framework which puts Children at the heart of everything we do. Bath and North East Somerset is committed to this vision. The overall local vision has evolved through the consultation process with children, young people, parents and carers and staff across the council, schools and voluntary agencies.
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76 We want all Children and Young People to do better in life than they ever thought they could. We will give children and young people the help that they need to do this. |
76 This vision is integral to what we want to achieve and to the quality of our services.
76 Our key values are that all children and young people will enjoy:
76 A positive sense of personal identity and self-worth
76 Belonging to a family, in the widest sense, and also to be part of a community
76 Good health
76 A safe, healthy, child-friendly environment, including appropriate housing, play and leisure facilities
76 Freedom from bullying
76 High quality learning opportunities and educational achievement for everyone
76 Freedom from poverty
76 A right to privacy
76 Equal access to services
76 Respect
Fundamental principles underpin our vision and values and will guide the development and delivery of the activities that will address our service priorities.
B7 Rights and responsibilities
o To recognise and value children's and young people's rights
o To recognise and value the responsibilities of parents, carers, the community and young people themselves towards children and young people
o To improve public understanding about standards and access to services
B7 Participation
o To secure and monitor the active participation and involvement of children, young people and their parents and carers in all processes to make plans and improve services
o To listen to, consult and involve children and young people and give their views equal weighting to those of adults
o To feedback to those who were consulted in order to explain decisions and the reasons for them
o To provide support and training where needed to children, young people and their parents and carers to enable them to participate in planning, reviewing and evaluating
B7 Partnership
o To continue to build strong and efficient partnerships with public, private, voluntary sector organisations, Bath and Wells and Clifton Dioceses , other faith groups and community groups in order to deliver high-quality, integrated, cost-effective services
o To build effective partnerships with children, young people, parents and carers.
o To build on the current practise of interagency working to secure local co-operation, co-ordination and accountability
B7 Equity
o To ensure that all children and young people have the same access to support and services
o To implement strategies for equality of opportunity which promote social inclusion and which oppose all forms of discrimination
o To consider all policy and service developments from an equalities perspective
o To focus resources in areas and or with groups with greatest need.
B7 Focus on prevention
o To ensure that a comprehensive range of universal services is available to support parents and carers in meeting the overall needs of their children and families.
B7 Evidence Based
o To always use available evidence or best practise models to inform our work and services.
o To use reflective practice and evaluation to review the effectiveness of our work and practice.
CHAPTER THREE
Analysis of needs and the Five Outcomes
This analysis of needs is gathered from all agencies in the Children & Young People's Strategic Partnership. It is based on what we need to improve following our Annual Performance Assessment 2005 which was verified by HM Inspector of Schools and the Commission for Social Care Inspectorate. The key priorities are indicated in bold. This section is intended as a summary of some of the key areas in which we do well/need to improve/priorities for action. It is not an exhaustive list of all services in the area. These priorities will in turn link with the Corporate Improvement Priorities. More detailed actions are highlighted in the delivery plans, which cover more than these areas for improvement. The delivery plans are detailed in Chapter 5.
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Be Healthy Outcomes in this area are good-APA 2005 (Annual Performance Assessment) |
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What we do well |
What we need to improve /what are our priorities for action. |
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Smoking B7 Preventing underage sales B7 Cessation groups running in schools and provision through Youth Services and Sure Start B7 Provide training programmes to extend coverage in schools & youth settings B7 Environmental tobacco smoke: B7 Reducing smoking in pregnancy |
B7 Increased level of test purchasing action to target vending machines B7 Increase uptake of cessation services in youth settings by increasing capacity to deliver services in a regular way B7 Roll-out smoke free homes and zones to other Local Area Partnerships B7 Improve monitoring of smoking in pregnancy, mapping to Local Area Partnerships, increased service delivery targeted to areas of high need |
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Diet & Physical Activity B7 Breastfeeding support and specific projects, such as Sure Start B7 Peer support, specialised counsellors (Bath West) Work in schools B7 Support schools to achieve healthy schools status (57/81 have Level 3 status) |
B7 Extend coverage of breastfeeding support initiatives to all LAP's , targeting areas with low rates B7 Securing, evaluating and rolling out 93ground-up94 initiatives (e.g. food co-op, cooking skills programme etc) All schools achieve the Healthy School Status thereby achieving minimum requirements in 1. PSHE (including drug education and sex and relationship education) 2. Healthy Eating 3. Physical Activity 4. Emotional Health and Well-being |
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B7 Obesity strategy `Shaping Up' - adopted B7 Healthy eating and nutrition projects at all Youth Centres |
B7 Implement `Shaping Up' by securing resources & delivering agreed actions B7 Extend Healthy Schools approach to nursery and early years settings |
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Diet & Physical Activity B7 Schools Sports Partnership B7 Provide training for schools initiatives B7 Development and implementation of school travel plans B7 `Get Active' - the BANES strategy for increasing physical activity |
B7 Undertake a Health Impact Assessment on school transport policy B7 Extension of `Passport to Health' exercise referral scheme to children and young people B7 Better integrate active transport and physical activity promotion |
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Inequalities and Targeted services B7 Looked after children's nurse |
B7 Monitoring to ensure effective action to reduce inequalities B7 Improved data recording and analysis to provide intelligence to inform service delivery B7 Better use of Health Impact Assessments as part of the planning process B7 Implement Care Pathway for disabled children Improve Mumps, Measles and Rubella vaccination uptakes |
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Mental Health B7 Healthy Schools PSHE strand B7 FRIENDS programme - delivered by school nurses (has won awards from Guidelines into Practice and National Institute of Mental Health) B7 SEAL programme, DfES programme in primary schools B7 Keepsafe, a service for children with sexually harmful behaviour (won a local Health and Social Care award and a National Institute of Mental Health award) B7 Anti-bullying initiatives B7 Parenting skills initiatives (especially Sure Start and Off the Record) B7 Reduction of specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services waiting list through investment in staff and new mode of delivery |
B7 Improving access by increasing capacity B7 Provision of preventative work B7 Expanding Tier 1 capacity B7 Postnatal depression initiatives B7 Securing, evaluating and rolling out `ground-up' initiatives in sustainable ways B7 Further reduce the waiting list for specialist Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services through completing the CAMHS Strategy ensuring 93Comprehensive CAMHS Services 93by December 2006. B7 Implement Care Pathways for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties B7 Finalise and implement the parenting support strategy through comprehensive universal and targeted approaches |
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Sexual Health B7 Teach Sex & Relationships Education curriculum well B7 Healthy Schools programme B7 Information, awareness raising - good provision B7 Teenage Pregnancy Partnership works well to clear action plan B7 Service developments are informed by service users B7 Continued Professional Development programme for nurses and teachers |
B7 Access to services needs improvement - increased provision in primary care, reduced waiting times for specialised services B7 Provision to vulnerable groups needs to be increased (especially those out of mainstream schooling, FE colleges) B7 Increased emphasis on a Sexual Health approach to include effective action on STIs B7 Achieve faster decline in teenage conception rate B7 Increased working with parents / carers B7 Increased involvement of clients in service development B7 The teacher / school nurse CPD initiative should be sustained |
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Alcohol B7 Healthy Schools B7 Action targeting underage sales B7 There is a well developed tiered approach to Drug and Alcohol services B7 Provide quality drug education training and support for PSHE, Pastoral and Support Staff in Schools and other settings B7 Vulnerable groups as identified by the GOSW and accessing treatment |
B7 Developing specific children and young people strand to Alcohol Harm Reduction strategy B7 Monitor and evaluate the delivery of the tiered services. B7 Monitor Access to treatment services for Children and Young People B7 Referral schemes for young offenders B7 Develop diversionary activities for vulnerable individuals and groups across a range of local authority and voluntary agencies B7 To develop additional support for children and young people with substance misusing parents/carers and other relations B7 Develop comprehensive care pathway document |
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What our service users say Children and Young People The top 3 issues about which children and young people aged 11-19 would like information and advice are: Drugs Sexual health And alcohol (B&NES Youth Matters Consultation, Nov 2005) When consulted about what keeps children and young people healthy, infant and pre school children told us that good diet, exercise and family are important `Not too many sweets' `Riding my bike' `Mums and dads look after you and feed you and need to be nice' When the same children were asked `What stops children being healthy?' smoking and poor housing were amongst their worries (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) Parent and Carers B7 Need more support and reassurance, access to courses about parenting and support to help children. B7 Support groups to help find out other ideas from other parents B7 Better information about services B7 More support for disabled children B7 Health visitors were seen as a positive source of support- more support from health visitors B7 Need to tackle the isolation of rural people (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) |
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Stay Safe Outcomes in this area are good-APA 2005. |
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What we do well |
What we need to improve/what are our priorities for action |
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B7 We have a robust framework and procedures for safeguarding children B7 Keepsafe is an innovative multi-agency project we have set up for children and young people with sexually harmful behaviour. B7 We have 120 looked after children, the majority of whom (85%) are in foster care. B7 Improved partnership working with young people's substance misuse service resulting in increasing numbers of young people using services. B7 Excellent initiatives in some areas around safe play (Community Play Rangers - winner of 3 national awards),and Youth Service involvement with community action groups, anti bullying and anti-social behaviour B7 Good voluntary agency projects and partnership working e.g. Mentoring Plus, Off the Record, Project 28,Connexions, Southside Family Project, Barnardos, The Children's Society, First Steps Children Centre. B7 Good injury prevention projects, such as Avon safe and Sure Start injury prevention initiative |
B7 The range of placement choice for disabled children and young people and those with challenging behaviour. B7 Access to service for all children and young people, specifically to reduce the proportion of children in need from black and other minority ethnic families. B7 Increasing the number of looked after children adopted B7 Greater breadth and flexibility of services for disabled children and young people B7 Better integration of substance misuse planning with other strategic plans B7 Maintain high level of multi-agency support for children and young people abusing substances B7 Improve services to children and families living with domestic violence and abuse B7 Extend anti-bullying initiatives including safe play opportunities and implementation of Healthy Schools Programme B7 More initiatives to reduce accidental death and injury |
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What do our service users say? Children and Young People: Of the top 5 issues that mattered most to children and young people in Bath and North East Somerset, 3 related to staying safe: When asked the question `Which 3 things would make the biggest difference to your life?' 43% of children and young people said safe places to play and hang out, 36% less bullying 31% to feel safe from crime. (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) When bully me.' `When people say infant and pre-school children were asked what makes them unhappy bullying was a common concern. `When people stuff I don't like.' (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) Parents and carers B7 Road safety and speeding cars were a concern B7 Bullying B7 Safety in parks and schools B7 They wanted more accessible and affordable play and leisure opportunities after schools and in holidays. B7 They wanted to be included in building safer communities. (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) |
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Enjoy and Achieve Outcomes in the area are good-APA 2005 |
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What we do well |
What we need to improve/what are our priorities for action |
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B7 Good quality Early Years provision B7 Attendance rates: secondary schools highest since 1997; and primary schools good (but static) B7 The attendance of Looked After Children is good B7 Well targeted Behaviour Support Service B7 Good provision and effective action for pupils not in school B7 Pupils' attainment for 7, 11 and 14 year olds and 5A*-C is in the top 20% nationally B7 Detailed data analysis enables schools to address specific areas of weakness B7 The support for the low number of schools causing concern is good B7 Timely completion rates and reduction in new statements of Special Educational Need B7 A wide range of accessible learning provision including for able students B7 The opportunities for play are good and well developed in some areas B7 The Youth Service provides access to informal alternative accreditation for young people, e.g. Duke of Edinburgh award, Millennium volunteer scheme, Young Bath and North East Somerset Scheme |
B7 Standards of groups of pupils who are underachieving B7 Key Stage 1 achievement, particularly higher attaining pupils B7 Attainment in writing, especially boys' writing and higher attaining girls in maths B7 The range of alternative provision for pupils 14-16 year old pupils B7 Pupil attainment at post-16, which is below the national average B7 Low levels of pupil attainment in some schools B7 Effective transition between Key Stages, focusing on learning and teaching B7 The relatively high number of exclusions and the relatively low level of reintegration of pupils not in school or in alternative provision B7 The attainment of Looked After Children, particularly at GCSE B7 Further develop the range of opportunities for play and leisure activities, e.g. using libraries B7 The minority of day care settings judged by Ofsted to be inadequate B7 Liaison with Bath and Wells and Clifton Dioceses and other faith groups over matters to do with voluntary church schools is regular and effective at all officer levels. |
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What do our service users say? Children and Young People Children and young people generally agree with the vision that it is important for them to achieve more than they ever thought they could. `Children should be able to do what they've always wanted in later life.' Most saw achievement as the key to getting good grades and good jobs. `When I'm older it will be easier to get a better job.' And others recognised that a sense of achievement was important to build self-esteem. `Then I can feel good about myself and get a good education.' In response to the question `What could help children and young people achieve more than they ever thought they could?' many said that more help should be available in school. `Have more adults in the classroom so that if a child puts up their hand someone comes right away.' (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) When children and young people were asked what sort of education or training would they like to be more available, these were the most common responses: sport, basic skills (maths & literacy), art and science (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) Safe places to play and hang out are the issue that matters to children and young people in Bath and North East Somerset. (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) These are some of the things children and young people like about where they live: places to play, good parks, open spaces, fields, gardens, and footpaths. `I have a big garden to have fun in' `There are nearby parks. Local Shops. A big field' Children and young people also said they appreciated facilities like the shops, schools, clubs and sports. (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) 84.8% of children and young people surveyed, aged 11-19, said they felt there is little do in the area where they live. Most of these children and young people (63.3%) would do more activities if they could. 77.7% thought opportunity cards as described in the Youth Green Paper were a good idea. Some of the activities they want include: bowling, cinema, a leisure pool and safe places to hang out. They particularly want more for young people to do in the city centre. (B&NES Youth Matters Consultation, Nov 2005) When asked what makes them happy, infant and pre-school children said: Pets, playing, gardens, parks, open spaces. `I like playing with my friends.' `I like the woods.' (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) Parents and Carers; B7 Want their children to be helped to reach their full potential and schools were identified as having great potential to help parents in the task of parenting as well as education. B7 Want more support for themselves and their children (and siblings) with additional needs in mainstream schools. B7 Indicated some concerns for children having problems at school with friendships and boredom B7 93need holiday clubs for children of all ages that don't cost more than you earn94 (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) |
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Make a Positive Contribution Outcomes in this area are good-APA 2005 |
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What we do well |
What we need to improve/what are our priorities for action |
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B7 We have a range of good initiatives to involve and support vulnerable young people e.g. Young Carer's Project; Play Rangers; Teenagers to Work, Compass, and Asperger's Out of School Club. B7 We have a low rate of youth re-offending overall and have a wide range of projects to combat re-offending B7 DAFBY (Democratic Action for BANES Youth) provides opportunities for young people to participate and influence decisions B7 Shout Out an independent service commissioned from Off the Record provides advocacy services for children and young people in need and care leavers up to 25 B7 We have developed a Participation Strategy for children and young people. |
B7 Involvement of young people and parents in strategic planning processes B7 Transition strategies for disabled children. B7 Re-offending rates for some groups of children are too high e.g. looked after, black and other minority ethnic young people, care leavers and young homeless B7 Embedding the involvement/participation of children and young people into all agencies and services, including recruitment B7 Develop further Participation Strategy for parents and carers. B7 The establishment of School Councils in ALL schools B7 The involvement of young people representatives in Connexions Development and ACPC Stakeholders Forums |
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What do our service users say? Children and Young People 79.7% of children and young people, aged 11-19, surveyed think it is important they have a say in the way things are run where they live. A significant number (45.3%) feel they currently have no say. (B&NES Youth Matters Consultation, Nov 2005) Some reasons why children and young people said it is important to participate: `It will prepare me for the real world.' `Children can help as well.' `You get a better life.' (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) Children and young people are particularly keen to have a say in their family and school life. `I would like to have a say in everything about me and my family' I would like to have a say in `what subjects we do in schools and just normal stuff.' (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) Parent and Carers B7 They are keen to know what is happening and how they can play a part, e.g. in developing a Parenting Strategy and taking part in consultation forums. B7 Feel importance should be given to the role of parents and support offered in a variety of ways, whether parents choose to work or stay at home with their children. B7 Were uncomfortable with the term 93vulnerable94. B7 Stated that there needs to be more things for children aged10-15 to do: cinema, youth club, bowling and family centres opened later for older kids during the holidays. (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) |
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Achieve Economic Wellbeing Outcomes in this area are adequate overall-APA 2005. |
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What we do well |
What we need to improve/what are our priorities for action |
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B7 Adolescent and Leaving Care Services provide effective support for care leavers B7 Learner performance as measured by the National Framework Level 3 points score has risen strongly over the last 2 years B7 A challenging post -16 self-evaluation and monitoring process has resulted in specific actions to improve learning and teaching B7 Strategy for Learners and Learners' Charter are approved and being implemented after extensive consultation B7 Annual curriculum mapping post-16 is audited annually against learner needs and entitlement B7 The curriculum has been broadened by incorporation of vocational and work-related courses in most schools B7 All schools provide opportunities for work experience and some include accreditation using a work experience log book B7 Following data analysis leading to targeted actions, the numbers of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) has decreased B7 Improved access to services (e.g. at the new Connexions Centre) and improved support through partnership working (e.g. through 16-19 network) has also contributed to the decrease in the numbers of young people not in education, employment and training B7 All SEN learners are assessed and have transition plans which are implemented by post-16 providers. Retention rates have improved |
B7 Analyse the supply and demand of both the educational curriculum and other forms of learning provision to ensure that future provision aligns with local and national data on skills needs and provides a wider range of appropriate high quality education, employment and training opportunities for young people aged 14-19 B7 Increase the breadth of vocational options for young people aged 14-19 years B7 Improve the number of care leavers who are in education, employment and training B7 Continue to increase the percentage of young people 16-19 who are in education, employment and training B7 Improve the number of care leavers, teenage mothers, young offenders, young people with a learning difficulty or disability and those from black and other minority ethnic communities who are in education, employment and training. B7 Work through projects such as the Western Riverside and Southgate developments to increase the range of employment and training opportunities for young people B7 Secure the full implementation of the Learners' Charter of a broad and individual learning entitlement B7 Ensure that schools, colleges ,Connexions Advisors and the Youth Service work together to provide information, advice and guidance so that young people know about future options before making decisions on any one option B7 Reduce the drop-out rate of post-16 learners which is currently 25% over a two year period B7 Increase the number of eligible young people accessing financial assistance through the Educational Maintenance Allowance or Care 2 Learn schemes B7 Increase the number of direct payments for carers of disabled children and 16/17 year old disabled young people B7 Improve the accommodation, capacity and support services for care leavers , teenage parents and the young homeless wherever they live in Bath and North East Somerset |
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What do our service users say? Children and Young People Children and young people saw a direct link between their own achievement and economic well being in later life. `If we get good marks on our GCSEs then we can get the job that we want and earn a good living.' (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) When asked what would help their parents, a common theme was freedom from money worries. `No tax. No mortgage' `Less bills' (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) Children and young people think good quality housing is important to all the 5 Every Child Matters outcomes, making them feel happy and safe and promoting good health and academic achievement. (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) Parents and Carers B7 Need affordable local services such as childcare and holiday activities for children and good information to help them access the support they need B7 Repeatedly stated that poverty must be addressed , especially rural poverty B7 Young people need better access to facilities already on the ground-adult education B7 Said that good housing and local environment/community were seen as priorities for children and families to do well B7 Access to good transport systems (Consultation on Change for Children Priorities, Nov 2005) |
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CHAPTER FOUR
Priorities
The priorities identified in this Children and Young People's Plan are based on the above analysis of needs as well as national priorities. The priorities were further identified through an Inter-agency Change for Children Conference in April 2005 and workshops held throughout 2005. Children, young people, parents and carers were actively involved in identification of the priorities in the latter part of 2005. These priorities indicate where all partners would like to see services developed to promote the health and well-being of all of our children and families.
A wide consultation process took place with all agencies represented on the Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership, through the Children Act Workshop in 4/05, and through children and young people being consulted via the C&YPSP Participation group and Democratic Action for B&NES Youth (DAFBY). This consultation period, March to June 2005, produced feedback from children and young people and staff across a range of services and agencies. The feedback was collated and considered by the Children's Services Liaison Group (Social Services, Education and Health) on 20th June 2005, and the local priorities for children, young people and families were determined as follows:
76 We want all Children and Young People to do better in life than they ever thought they could. We will give children and young people the help that they need to do this.
Within this overall goal, the local priorities will be to deliver:
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Improved achievement, health and well-being for families in the relatively deprived communities in Bath and North East Somerset |
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Through targeted support, confident and successful parents and carers |
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Increased learning, training and employment opportunities for children and young people |
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Increased numbers of children and young people living in good quality housing |
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Improved achievement, health and well-being for specific groups of children and young people |
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Improved self-esteem, participation and perception of children and young people |
Underpinning these local priorities will be our commitment to safeguarding children and promoting their educational achievement.