Changing Times, Changing Children: Achieving Quality in Early Intervention

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Changing Times, Changing ChildrenAchieving
Quality in Early Intervention
University of Worcester
Professor Chris Robertson April 2009

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Every Child Matters (2003) the vision
Radical improvement in opportunities and outcomes
for children, driven by whole-system reform of
the delivery of childrens services

• Build services around the child and the family
• Develop a shared sense of responsibility across
  agencies
• Develop the workforce, changing culture
  practice
• Develop integrated universal services early
  years, health education
• Listen to children and their families
• More specialised help early intervention

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Children Act 2004

• Establish a Childrens Commissioner to champion
  the views and interests of children
• Cooperation between agencies
• Duty to safeguard promote childrens welfare
• Duty to set up Local Safeguarding Children Boards
• Systems to enable better sharing of information
  about children
• Single statutory Children and Young Peoples Plan
  drawn up by each LA

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A national framework for local change
Policies Products
Outcomes Aims
Improvement Cycle
Targets Indicators
Supporting Change
Inspection Criteria
Communications
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The childrens trust in action
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The challenges?

• Effective communication
• Clear understanding of roles and responsibilities
  between professionals and families
• Maintaining high level of professional specialism
• Developing trust
• Empowering parents and families

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And the real big challenge is

• Addressing
• social
• disadvantage

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Useful References

• DfES (2004) Five year strategy for children and
  learners, DfES
• Kirk, G. Broadhead, P. (2007) Every Child
  Matters and Teacher Education A UCET Position
  Paper, www.ucet.ac.uk
• Leadbeater, C. (2005) The shape of things to
  come Personalised learning through
  collaboration, DfES, www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/in
  novations-unit
• Pollard, A. James, M. (Ed.) (2004)
  Personalised Learning, TLRP/ESRC, www.tlrp.org
• www.everychildmatters.gov.uk
• www.dh.gov.uk
• www.teachernet.gov.uk/publications