Every Child Matters

In September 2003, the government published a green paper entitled “Every Child Matters”. This addresses issues raised by the Laming Report, and also the broader issues of helping children reach their potential. The aim of the paper is to reduce levels of educational failure, ill health, substance misuse, teenage pregnancy, abuse and neglect, crime and anti-social behaviour among children and young people.

The Government's aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to achieve these five outcomes:

Be healthy

Stay safe

Enjoy and achieve

Make a positive contribution

Achieve economic well-being

This means that the organisations involved with providing services to children - from hospitals and schools, to local councils and voluntary groups - will be teaming up in new ways, sharing information and working together, to protect children and young people from harm and help them achieve what they want in life. Children and young people will have far more say about issues that affect them as individuals and collectively.

If you are interested in more information about this subject, click on the links below:
Every Child Matters Website
Fives Outcomes Framework




Page last updated on: 09/08/2006