The Children's Plan
The Children's Plan is a ten-year vision to make this country a better place for children and young people. It aims to raise attainment and aspirations for this and future generations, closing gaps in educational achievement and ensuring standards of educational excellence for everyone.
Based on the DCSF consultation, five principles underpin the plan:
- Government does not bring up children — parents do — so Government needs to do more to back parents and families.
- All children have the potential to succeed and should go as far as their talents can take them.
- Children and young people need to enjoy their childhood as well as grow up prepared for adult life.
- Services need to be shaped by and responsive to children, young people and families, not designed around professional boundaries.
- It is always better to prevent failure than tackle a crisis later.
Central to these principles is the ability to recognise the potential of every individual at every stage and to fulfil this potential. Young adults will be equipped with the skills they need to enter employment or succeed in higher education.
For schools, this means building on the high standards already being achieved. It also means providing schools with world-class teaching, leadership, training and professional development.
Some of the strategies in the Children's Plan are new, while others have already been announced, such as the 2008 introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage, reform of the secondary curriculum, the introduction of Diplomas and increasing the school-leaving age.
Policies introduced by the Children's Plan include:
- A new focus on personalised teaching, learning and testing.
- The introduction by 2010 of a Learning Guide for each pupil, helping them work to their full potential.
- A wide-ranging review of the primary-level curriculum to help smooth the transitions from early years, free up space in the school day and enhance focus on literacy, numeracy and languages.
- Implementation of the Foundation Learning Tier.
- Schools to increasingly work in partnership with other agencies to actively contribute to all aspects of children's lives such as health and well-being, safety and care.
- Greater priority to be placed on raising expectations for children with special educational needs.
- More to be done to provide advice, information and guidance to parents and families about their child's development.
- All new teachers able to study for a Masters.
To read in more detail about the Children's Plan and in particular the role played by schools, visit the DCSF website.
Published: 11 December 2007
