Every Child Matters Pamela Graham November 2009

Objectives for this session: To offer an historical perspective on the development of services for children and families in England; To explore how professionals are now working together and sharing information with the aim of better supporting children and families; To highlight the importance of the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda.

Every Child Matters (2003) A framework for services that cover children and young people (birth to 19 years) living in England

Keeping Children Safe Detailed response to the recommendations made by Lord Laming in the report of his inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbiè Poor co-ordination Failure to share information Absence of anyone with a strong sense of accountability Poor management Lack of effective training

Children Act The Welfare State NHS Plan Child welfare tragedies and inquiries Every Child Matters Looking back… Children Act Keeping Children Safe 2003 Children’s Plan Sure Start Trailblazers

‘As a society we love children only when they are under control. We hate children who defy us. We fear children who are independent, quirky, free thinking, non conformist, idiosyncratic, superior or critical of adults’. Pogrebin. In Kitzinger and Kitzinger (1989)

Children Act The Welfare State NHS Plan Child welfare tragedies and inquiries Every Child Matters Looking back… Children Act Keeping Children Safe 2003 Children’s Plan Sure Start Trailblazers

New roles e.g. Early Years Professionals, Parent Support Advisors Children’s Centres Extended Schools Changes to inspection processes Changes to the curriculum e.g. The Early Years Foundation Stage Inclusion, Interprofessional Working and Integrated Services Children’s Trusts 2009… Brighter Futures 2009 Healthy Lives, Brighter Futures

Five Outcomes Stay safe Be healthy Enjoy and achieve Make a positive contribution Achieve economic well-being

Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children’s Workforce Child and young person development Safeguarding children and child protection, including risk and protection factors Effective communication and engagement Supporting transitions Multi-agency working Sharing information

More than 4 million people in England work with children, or support those working with children. 2.4 million paid staff and 1.8 million unpaid staff and volunteers 13,000 Health Visitors 2,500 School Nurses 6,000 Speech/Language Therapists Over 50,000 other health professionals including Children’s Nurses/ Midwives/ Child & Adolescent Mental Health 83,000 Early Years Workers 280,000 Child Care Workers 440,000 Teachers 230,000 School Support Staff 3,000 Education Welfare Officers 7,000 Connexions personal advisors 7,000 Youth Workers 30,000 Play Workers 400,000 Sports and Leisure Workers 5,000 in Youth Offending Teams 5,000 in Juvenile Area 40,000 Children & Families Social Workers

Children’s Centres and Extended Schools Integrated education, care, family support and health services A Children’s Centre in every community by 2010, co- ordinating a range of services for pre-school children, linking all providers and providing information and advice to parents. For 5 – 14 year olds, childcare will be available in schools By 2010 all parents with children aged 5 – 11 will be offered affordable school based childcare on weekdays between the hours of 8 – 6pm all year round By 2010 all secondary schools will be open on weekdays between the hours of 8 – 6pm, all year round offering a range of activities such as music and sport.

Looking forward... ‘We want to value the specific skills that people from different professional backgrounds bring, and we also want to break down the professional barriers that inhibit joint working, and tackle recruitment and retention problems. Our goal must be to make working with children an attractive, high status career, and to develop a more skilled and flexible workforce’. Every Child Matters (2003)

Views of childhood Children are adorable and happy Based on the assumption that children are entitled to a ‘good childhood’ and that they need protection (The romanticisation of childhood or the discourse of ‘welfare’) Informs current social policy Children are wicked and sinful Based on the assumption that children lack self control and need to be regulated (The puritan discourse or the discourse of control) Informs current educational policy Wendy Stainton-Rogers

For further information: Recommended reading: Barker, Richard. (Ed) (2009) Making Sense of Every Child Matters. Policy Press