The children's plan aims to improve life for all children in Britain. Photograph: John Li/Getty
The government announced its 10-year children's plan today, which it says will radically improve the lives of young people. Some of the main proposals are: free nursery care for disadvantaged two-year-olds; money for holidays for disabled teenagers; an inquiry into the commercialisation of childhood; individual mentors for secondary children; and an overhaul of national school tests and league tables.
Clare Tickell, the chief executive of children's charity NCH said the plan is a pivotal opportunity to give all the childhood they deserve. But she added:
It is vital to realise that solutions do not rest with schools or families alone. We need joined up working that involves everyone, making the most of available expertise and local knowledge. Most importantly, we must not forget who this plan is actually for: children and their families. They must remain at the heart of these proposals, and not just become hidden behind faceless targets and statistics.In order for this plan to succeed, its implementation must involve making brave and difficult decisions to instigate changes that will actually make a difference. Improving children's emotional as well as physical wellbeing in the earliest stages of their lives is vital if we are to help them develop the qualities needed to realise their full potential.
On the talkboards of parenting website Mumsnet users were skeptical about the government's plans for school:
Southeastastra wrote: "I think the government should butt out of schools and leave the big decisions to the heads. Give them the money to sort out problems, they know what needs doing more that the government."
While WendyWeber wrote: "Individual mentors won't be extra staff - it means each child is assigned to one of the teachers who will then have to be in almost constant touch with the parents, according to the report in the Guardian. That'll leave lots of time for teaching then."
But Kathy Evans, the policy director at the Children's Society, described the pledge by the children's minister, Ed Balls, to make Britain the best place in the world for children to grow up as "a welcome early Christmas present". She added:
Responsibility for childhood belongs to society as a whole and we are encouraged that the government's 10-year plan will look beyond education to address the crucial role of the media and families. Many of the submissions to the Children's Society's ongoing Good Childhood Inquiry [a two-year inquiry due to report in 2009] have expressed concern over the commercialisation of childhood and the level of testing in schools so we are delighted that the plan will tackle these areas.The critical test will now be in how the government translates this ambition into reality for those children living on the edges of society, such as young refugees, children in trouble with the law, disabled children and young runaways.
For the Daycare Trust, targeting the most disadvantaged children was key to the plan's success. The trust's joint chief executive, Alison Garnham, said:
Providing free places is a simple, transparent way of supporting early years education and care, and one which is hugely popular with parents. Extending the free places to two-year-olds, targeting the most disadvantaged first, will help close the gap in educational outcomes between the poorest children and the rest.It's also great news that the government is planning to make better outreach a part of everyday practice for early years settings - because we know that it's the most disadvantaged families who find it hardest to access services.
And Play England welcomed Balls' promise of 'substantial' new funding for adventure playgrounds. Adrian Voce, its director, said: "This is fantastic news. Play is the essence of childhood."
But will the plan bring real improvements to children lives?
