Today, every child matters

Last updated 18:45, Sunday, 25 May 2008

A KEY aspect of the Children Act 2004 is the need for all services involved with children – education, health, social work, justice – to co-ordinate their work to ensure that children get the best possible start in life.

It was passed by the Government following Lord Laming’s 2003 report into the death of Victoria Climbie, who was murdered by her great aunt in London. Laming concluded Victoria had been let down by failings in bureaucracy and lack of communication in several agencies.

The act led to a wide-ranging set of initiatives around the theme of Every Child Matters. In particular, Every Child Matters establishes five key outcomes for children.

These are that all children: are healthy; are safe; have the opportunity both to enjoy life and achieve; have the skills and understandings to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and to society in general; and have the skills to ensure they have economic well-being in life.