HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EDUCATION & SKILLS CABINET PANEL

TUESDAY 8 FEBRUARY 2011 AT 2.00 PM

Children and Young People’s Plan 2011/12

Report of the Director Children Schools and Families

Author: Sarah PageTel: 01438 845356

Executive Members:Jane Pitman (Children’s Services)

Richard Thake (Education & Skills)

  1. Purpose of report
  • To update the Panel on the development of the 2011/12 Children and Young People’s Plan (CYPP)
  • To present the consultation draft version of the CYPP
  • To invite comment and feedback from the Panel on the draft CYPP
  1. Summary

2.1The CYPP is the key strategic document for all partners delivering services to children, young people, and their families in Hertfordshire. The plan continues to focus on two key areas for improvement: safeguarding children and young people and narrowing the gap between children from the poorest families and all children.

2.2The 2011/12 draft plan now focuses on 11 key priorities instead of 12. Priority 10 from the 2010/11 CYPP has now been embedded within the plan. The emphasis this year has been on refreshing the action plans, rather than a complete re-write.

2.3Working with Priority Leads, draft action plans for each of the priorities have been developed and a wider range of stakeholders are now being invited to comment and provide feedback on the document (attached as Appendix A).

2.4 During the period for comment, work will be undertaken with priority leads to amend or supplement the use of performance measures within the plan.

3.Recommendation

3.1The Panel is asked to review and comment on the draft Children and Young People’s Plan 2011/12 (attached as Appendix A). Any further comments are invited for consideration until 16 February 2011.

3.2The final version of the CYPP 2011/12 will be considered by Cabinet on 21 March 2011 and by County Council on 29 March 2011.

4Background

4.1The CYPP is the key strategic document for all partners delivering services to children, young people, and their families in Hertfordshire.

4.2Following a revision to the structure of the CYPP in 2008/09, the plan is now a more focused and concise document that identifies key priorities for improving outcomes for children and young people, robust performance measures, actions, and accountable named leads.

4.3The current plan is shaped around two overarching themes where improvements are most needed:

  • Safeguarding children and young people
  • Narrowing the gap between children from the poorest families and all children

4.4The 2011/12 draft CYPP retains the emphasis of these themes as well as continuing to focus improvements on eleven of the priorities in the current 2010/11 plan and two of the service management priorities.

4.5The priorities are outlined below:

Theme 1: Safeguarding children and young people

1 / Children and young people are safe from abuse and neglect
2 / Children and young people achieve their full potential whilst in and moving on from care
3 / Children and young people are confident to respond to bullying
4 / Children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health is well supported

Theme 2: Narrowing the gap between children from the poorest families and all children

5 / Children and young people have a healthy weight
6 / Under 5s from the poorest families have a positive early childhood
7 / Children from the poorest families achieve as well as others
8 / Children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities are empowered to reach their full potential
9 / Young people get a wide range of opportunities to learn
10 / Children and young people thrive in spite of family poverty
11 / Children and young people keep on the right track

Service Management Priorities

SMP
1 / Build an excellent children’s workforce across Hertfordshire, through workforce reform, to support and deliver the outcomes in the Children and Young People’s Plan
SMP
2 / Ensure services make best use of resources and provide good value for money

4.6The 2011-12 version of the CYPP now contains 51 actions instead of 72. Top-level actions have been outlined with a view to these being supported by and reflected in individual partner’s strategic plans, local plans and other HCTP strategies. This ensures that the CYPP fulfils its role as a strategic plan.

4.7The draft Children and Young People’s Plan is attached as Appendix A. A period of wider stakeholder engagement is now underway with comment and feedback being invited by 16 February 2011.

4.8As part of this engagement, the Panel is asked to review and comment on the draft CYPP 2011/12. Any subsequent feedback is invited until the 16 February 2011 and should be sent to Sarah Page ().

4.9Following the period of comment & feedback,Priority Leads will produce a final draft of the CYPP to be considered by Cabinet on 21 March 2011 and full County Council on 29 March 2011.

Financial Implications

There are no direct financial implications arising from this refresh of CYPP. The cost of the preparation and issuing of the CYPP2011/12 will be met from within the current budget.

110208 CYPP refresh report

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