Headteacher’s Conference Child and Family Poverty Andrew Simmons

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Child Poverty affects life chances and forms an inter-generational cycle 1) Lack of income and material resources in childhood adversely affect early years development 2) impacting on cognitive, emotional and behavioural capacities and resources, and so shaping social identities and trajectories through education 3) which in turn increases the risk of precarious labour market position 4) thus increasing the risk of poverty in adulthood t

What can child poverty feel like? –Unfair ‐ going without the things others take for granted –Lonely ‐ not being able to join in –Frightening ‐ being bullied or picked on for being different, living in unsafe housing –Frustrating ‐ not achieving at school or in life as much as you can –Worrying ‐ being worried about money and debt –Limiting ‐ not knowing what the world has to offer

What does child poverty really mean? How much money do you think a family of four on the poverty line has to live on a week ? ……for rent, heat, food, clothes, books, transport, holidays, birthdays, furniture, school trips toys, emergencies...

Impacts of Poverty Poverty & Housing Children who live in poverty are almost twice as likely to be in bad housing. Children living in bad housing are almost twice as likely to suffer from poor health as other children Children in overcrowded or unfit accommodation are a third more likely to suffer respiratory problems Poverty & Health Prematurity/Low Birth Weight / IMR Accidents Developmental delay Dental caries Stature and growth Learning disability STIs / teenage pregnancy Delinquency Accidents Disability Maltreatment Adult ill health (Stroke; IHD; Type 2 Diabetes)

What does child poverty really mean? Of the following groups of deprived children, which group is most likely to not achieve 5 good GCSES? a) Bangladeshi boys in low income households b) Black Caribbean boys in low income Households c) White boys in low income households d) Pakistani girls in low income households

The Child Poverty Act Making a legal commitment to end poverty by 2020 The Act sets out four targets to eradicate child poverty by 2020 and beyond: Relative low income – less than 10% in 2020 Combined low income and material deprivation Absolute low income target – less than 5% in 2020 Persistent poverty target Low income is defined as below 60% median income before housing costs. It also requires government to minimise socioeconomic disadvantage for children The Act also sets out how government will be held accountable, by publishing: A strategy every three years to 2020 and an annual report. The first strategy must be published by March 2011, and will cover the first 3 years of the strategy. The Government must consult on the national strategy. Part 2 of The Act requires local authorities and their delivery partners to produce local strategies, based on local area needs assessments

Hertfordshire Child & Family Poverty Strategy

Hertfordshire Child & Family Poverty Strategy 1: employment and adult skills supporting families to increase their income by ensuring that parents can enter, stay and progress in work promoting opportunities for adults to acquire skills necessary to enter, stay and progress in work and increase their income 2: financial support supporting families to increase take up of benefits and tax credits supporting families to acquire the skills and knowledge that will enable them to access fair financial services and to avoid punitive debt recovery action

Hertfordshire Child & Family Poverty Strategy 3: services for children, young people and families, in particular education, health and family support supporting children’s education and personal development with a specific focus on narrowing the gap in achievement and equality of opportunity supporting families to improve their health supporting parents’ resilience and strengthening their parenting skills 4: housing and neighbourhoods supporting children to grow up in a decent home environment free from homelessness, overcrowding etc. enabling families and children to thrive in safe, cohesive communities and neighbourhoods

Priorities identified through ‘needs analysis to increase employment prospects for young people and families in pockets of deprivation, particularly in Broxbourne, Stevenage and Waltham Cross (including childcare sufficiency, links between Jobcentre Plus, children’s centres and other sources of information and advice) Measures to increase the availability of financial information and advice in the above identified areas. A focus on improving the educational achievement of children at key stages 2 and 4 in identified areas of deprivation. A focus on healthy eating, breastfeeding and physical activity, particularly in deprived areas such as Broxbourne, Stevenage and Watford, in order to reduce levels of obesity. A continued focus on measures aimed at reducing levels of teenage pregnancy in areas where rates are higher.

‘Think Family’ – A clear link to both HCC and wider partnership priorities Established Children’s Trust led Child Poverty Strategy Established multi agency Child & Family Poverty Strategy – recently reviewed and updated Key priority for Children’s Trust and CYPP – and emerging Health & Wellbeing Board ‘Think Family’ a central theme within Child & Family Poverty Strategy Link to county economic development strategy group ‘Hertfordshire Forward’ – significant investment through PRG funding in ‘Think Family’ project Underpinned by recognition that some Hertfordshire communities need significant sustained support to tackle poverty and under achievement

‘Think Family’ – already established within mainstream services Some examples of existing family centred approaches Children’s Centres –Countywide network – with local approaches responding to identified needs Within Schools and other education settings –Extended schools consortia – C&YP Workers and Family Support Workers Young People beyond family control –Targeted Youth Support Teams already impacting on volume of Social Care entrants through early intervention

‘Think Family’ – pathfinder projects developing new ways of working Scaffold Project – multi agency approach focused on four deprived communities East Herts Family Intervention Project – tackling persistent offending Housing Challenge Project – delivery through 6 District Council ASB teams with focus on families at risk of eviction ALL are establishing new ways of improving outcomes - Significant additional investment from EIG in 2011/12 - Testing new ways of working with intention to imbed successful approaches within multi agency teams from 2012 / 13

Thank you for listening Are you aware of the Hertfordshire Child & Family Poverty Strategy and how you contribute to it? What more should we be doing? What more do we need to do to move from strategy to action and outcomes?