Every Child Matters Policy

The school's every child matters policy is shown below...

What is the agenda?

The Every Child Matters agenda is really about delivering the five outcomes for children and young people in the Children Act. They are:

• 1 - Be healthy
• 2 – Stay safe
• 3 – Enjoy and achieve
• 4– Make a positive contribution
• 5– Achieve economic well-being

Where did the Every Child Matters come from?

Following the murder of Victoria Climbie in February 2000, which occurred although she had been seen by a range of health, social services and police authorities, Lord Laming produced a damning report on what had happened and how all professionals needed to co-ordinate their approach to children at risk

So what did the government do?

In June 2003, Tony Blair appointed the first Children’s Minister, based in the Department for Education and Skills, with responsibilities for all education and social services for children, families and young people. Margaret Hodge, the first Children’s Minister, published the Every Child Matters Green Paper in September 2003, which provoked a huge debate about how to integrate children’s services to ensure that no child slipped through the net

What happened next?

The Children Act 2004 put into law the recommendations of Every Child Matters. In effect local education authorities were abolished and replaced by children’s services authorities. These new authorities must have one councillor as the ‘lead member’ for children and there has to be a Director of Children’s Services, who is responsible for education

What does this mean for schools?

Well, if we are trying to integrate all services for children, then schools have to be central to these changes, as in most cases, teachers have much more contact with children and their families than any other professionals

What about teaching. Are we expected to be doctors and social workers too?

Of course teaching and learning is the core of what schools do, but to make sure that children can benefit from education, the school is expected to work closely with the local health service, social services and other local agencies. The idea is that all the services will co-operate so that every child gets all the help and support they need to make good progress. Schools have always done a huge amount of work to make sure schools are safe and healthy so that every child can take full advantage of education

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   Every Child Matters: What's It All About?