Other policy
Policy: Every Child Matters
22 May 2003
The Government's green paper outlined the future of children's services. Agenda of reform to:
- support parents and carers
- early intervention and effective protection
- accountability and integration
- workforce reform
Sets out the five outcomes for children:
- being healthy
- staying safe
- enjoying and achieving
- making a positive contribution
- economic well-being
Key concepts include:
Common Assessment Framework: designed to avoid overlapping of assessments.
Lead Professional: to avoid duplication and promote coordination.
Multi-disciplinary teams: services to be based on needs of child rather than the providers.
Ways in which practitioners can support and develop communication under the Every Child Matters framework:
A Unique Child:
- follow the child's lead
- join in with the child's play or mirror their actions
- focus on what a child is looking at or doing
- wait and allow the child time to start the conversation
- take turns to communicate so that adults and children both get a turn at talking
Positive Relationships:
- build up a child's sentences by repeating what they say and adding words
- give choices to increase vocabulary
- if a child says something inaccurately, acknowledge what they have said and repeat it back in the correct way
- share the top tips with parents so that they can do the same at home
Enabling Environment:
- get down to the child's level; it's easier to talk if you are face to face
- get a child's attention before you start to talk
- make sure you use lots of statements and fewer questions
- try to have a conversation with every child every day
Learning and Development:
- plan a variety of interesting activities so that there is plenty to talk about
- se daily routines to repeat and emphasise basic language
- listen to sounds around you and play games that encourage listening
- have fun together with songs and rhymes
For more information visit www.everychildmatters.gov.uk
