A number of recent policy developments around children and young people have significantly shaped the Government Office role in this important area of work.
More information on the national picture
The Change for Children agenda has its roots in the report of Lord Laming's inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie, which revealed a shameful failure of our ability to protect the most vulnerable in society. But it is not just about children in need, children at risk of abuse or neglect, or children in need and in complex circumstances. It is about all children: hence the title of the Children's Green Paper - 'Every Child Matters', published August 2003.
Children and young people have told us that five outcomes are key to well-being in childhood and later life:
- being healthy
- staying safe
- enjoying and achieving
- making a positive contribution, and
- achieving economic well-being
The Government's ambition is to improve these outcomes for all children and to narrow the gap in outcomes between those who do well and those who do not. These five outcomes are central to the programme of change and are at the heart of the Children Act 2004 which provides the legislative foundation for the programme.
It is about all children because any child runs the risk of not fulfilling her or his potential. All too often the risk arises because agencies do not talk to each other and work together effectively in the interests of the whole child - not just the child's education, health or social welfare.
Policy documents, in full and in summary, are available from the Department for Education and Skills Every Child Matters website.
