CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Building a brighter future for our children

Child poverty, a sector wide recruitment and retention crisis, and a ‘broken’ SEND system could fundamentally undermine the Government’s ability to create opportunities for all, argues Andy Smith.

 © ADCS

Our core vision at ADCS is to ensure that every child has the best start in life, regardless of their background. Which is why we were pleased to see the Government's ambitious Plan for Change unveiled last month, aimed at breaking down barriers to opportunity for children across the UK.

 The Plan for Change has sent a powerful message about the importance of establishing a foundation for physical, intellectual, and emotional development during early childhood. Currently, over one-third of children are arriving at school unable to dress themselves independently, and at least one child in every classroom has not completed toilet training (Ofsted, 2024). According to a recent survey, 93% of teachers report ‘that their schools are either increasing resources or reallocating existing ones to tackle this issue'. These statistics underscore the urgent need to provide comprehensive and sustainable support for children and their families from the very beginning.

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