Published: 29 May 2007
A Seamless Service for Children
A public consultation aimed at providing seamless services that meet the individual needs of children and their parents, has been launched by the Department for Education and Skills.
The guidance, which is published jointly by Department for Education and Skills, Department for Work and Pensions, and Department of Health, will hopefully help improve outcomes of children and as it calls for closer working between local authorities, Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and Jobcentres Plus.
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.
This Early Years outcomes duty is intended to 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.
The new duty will commence on 1 April 2008 and in preparation for this the Government will publish the final statutory guidance during autumn 2007.
The consultation closes on 3 September 2007.
Further information
Consultation documents
Childcare Act 2006
Also just published recently by the DH are:
· The Pregnancy Book 2007
· Birth to five: 2007 edition
· How to identify opportunities for care and resource utilisation
To find a business you can trust, click on the related categories below: