Agenda item

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Children and Young People which outlined the developments regarding the priority for Children’s Trust “children and young people do well whatever their needs and wherever they live”. (Narrowing the Gap). The report also sought a decision on strategies which would support, monitor, evaluate and challenge developments for how well “children and young people do well whatever their needs and wherever they live”.

            It was reported that to narrow the gap was defined as closing the distance in outcomes between children who do well and those who do not. This could be, for example, in terms of health and/or education. It was noted that the gap represented a complex mix of factors relating to people and places such as prevailing cultures and subcultures, the ability to access services, economic activity, migration patterns, educational achievement and perceptions around life chances. It was advised that the Council was dealing with areas and people where a complex range of factors presented barriers to accessing the full benefits of a thriving Borough.

It was further noted that this could not be solved simply, but needed to be approached with the tool box containing the widest range of services and measures and with a built in flexibility that allowed some local variation and response to community engagement. To support where the “gap” needed to be narrowed required services that could respond to non-normative conditions, i.e. those found on the wrong side of the gap. It was reported that this was how the Council could avoid simply compensating for the gap.

            Outlined in the report were some groups of children that were more likely to fall behind than others and many children that belonged to more than one group and for most the gap was more than the outcome. Some illustrative examples of the groups were children and young people were more vulnerable of falling behind were also outlined in the report for Members’ consideration.

            The Board was advised that in Halton there had been a considerable amount of success in terms of, for example, education. It was noted that the Council needed to ensure however that all young people were making and having the same opportunity of achieving.

            It was advised that the Children’s Trust had as one of its key priorities “children and young people do well whatever their needs and wherever they live”. In order to address this area and ensure that there was progress and impact on priority 2, key approaches were being taken which were outlined in the report. It was advised that building on the good practice already existing in the Borough and to develop new ways of approaching this priority, the target was to ensure that “children and young do well whatever their needs and wherever they live”.  

            In receiving the report Members noted that teenage pregnancy rates and the health agenda among children was an issue in Halton. Tabled at the meeting were key indicators derived from a recent survey, which outlined responses received. In addition the Board requested the series of questions that were asked as part of the survey be forwarded to Members of the Board.

            RESOLVED: That the developments and strategies regarding the priority for Children’s Trust “children and young people to well whatever their needs and where ever they live” be noted.