Draft 4

CHILDREN

AND YOUNG

PEOPLE’S

PLAN

FOR

POOLE

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

OUR VISION

OUR PRINCIPLES

Chapter 2

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT POOLE?

Chapter 3

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE: NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Chapter 4

CONSULTATION WITH CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE, PARENTS & EMPLOYERS

Chapter 5

OUR RESPONSE AND PRIORITIES TO IMPROVE

Chapter 6

KEY MESSAGES AND ACTIONS WE WILL TAKE

a) Be Healthy

b) Stay Safe

c) Enjoy and Achieve

d) Positive Contribution

e) Economic Well-being

Chapter 7

NEW WAYS OF WORKING

Making the Most of Our Resources to Achieve Our Objectives

Chapter 8

MANAGING THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE’S PLAN

Chapter 1

OUR VISION

This is what we want for children and young people in Poole

Children and young people are the future of Poole, we want them to feel listened to, supported and respected, and to be proud of their community, school and town. We want them to enjoy their childhood.

We will make sure they have good information on the things that are important to them, such as how to be healthy and where to go for advice and enjoyable activities.

Staying safe is most important to them. We need to ensure they have someone to go to if they are concerned about bullying in or out of school or are worried about what is happening at home.

We want all young people to enjoy learning and feel inspired and supported to achieve their aspirations and to believe in themselves and what they can achieve.

We want them to have fun, good friends and a host of challenging, interesting and easy to get to activities to choose from in school and their leisure time.

We want them to feel a part of their community and able to make a contribution to how it shapes up.

As they move into adulthood, we want them to be able to get a good job with training and to be able to take the first step towards getting their own home.

To achieve this, agencies in Poole are working together to change and improve the way services are provided for children, young people and families:-

  1. The child or young person will be at the centre of everything we do.
  1. We will have a single, clear and easily understandable system of support.
  1. We will work in true partnership with parents and children.
  1. All agencies and providers will work together in partnership and have a common purpose and common commitment to quality.
  1. We will involve neighbourhoods and the community in the programme to achieve the five outcomes for children and young people.

OUR PRINCIPLES

which underpin all that we do:

  • Children’s Needs are Paramount – their wishes and feelings should be listened to and acted upon.
  • Emotional Well-being is vital – children have the right to grow up in a loving, stable environment with positive and continuing relationships.
  • Equality of Opportunity is achieved – every child should have the opportunity and support they need to fulfil their potential.
  • Inclusion is Essential for all Children and Young People – policies and services will be sensitive to the individual needs and aspirations of every child and young person.
  • Children, Young People and their Families are Empowered – so they are as fully involved as they want to be through consultation and participation in the design, delivery and evaluation of policies and services.
  • Children are Safeguarded and Protected – robust systems, skills and resources will be in place to support this.
  • High Aspirations for all Children and Young People are Encouraged – so that they have standards and pride in themselves and are enabled to promote and celebrate achievement.
  • Effective Partnership will achieve our Aims – working together for the benefit of all children.
  • Involving the Community will achieve lasting improvement – enable communities to meet the needs of children and young people locally and in a way that can be sustained.
  • High Quality Policies and Services are achieved – that are respectful and supportive of children, young people and their families.

Chapter 2

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT POOLE?

Poole is a small (pop 137,900) urban unitary council, part of a conurbation with Bournemouth on the south coast. Most residents in Poole enjoy a good quality of life with low unemployment, good health, low crime and good public services and excellent educational results.

Poole is an historic Borough, dating back to 10th Century with the 2nd largest natural harbour in the world, fantastic beaches and watersports, a thriving shopping centre and cultural centre and close to beautiful countryside.

Poole has enjoyed a strong and mixed economy. However, the opportunities enjoyed by many have not been available to all and Poole’s success can mask a range of inequalities. Poole has a high proportion of low skilled jobs and is one of only 2 local authority areas in the South West to experience a population decline since 1998. This is set to change but will not be evenly distributed across the age structure. We need to plan for an aging population as well as for a small but growing black and minority ethnic population.

The good environment and general economic well-being makes Poole an attractive place to move to which is pushing up both house prices and the age profile. Providing affordable housing is important for Poole’s sustainability.

A relatively low skilled economy and high house prices also mean that some young people find it hard to stay in the area. Providing every young person with the best start in life is critical to Poole’s future.

We recognise that not everyone in the town enjoys the same quality of life and that a range of inequalities exist whereby outcomes for children and young people can differ in different parts of the town. This makes it a priority for all services working with children and young people in Poole to co-operate and work together in reducing inequalities and making services more effective in specific localities, thereby closing the gap in order to give every child and young person the best start in life.

Chapter 3

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE: NEEDS ASSESSMENT

DEMOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

Key facts...

  • There are currently 31,400 0-19 year olds in Poole.
  • 1,300 (4%) come from black or minority ethnic backgrounds.
  • Between 2006 and 2016 the number of 0-19 year olds is projected to fall by around 2,800 (9%). This will mainly effect those aged 10+.
  • The highest concentration of children and young people aged 0-19 in Poole live in Alderney, Merley and Bearwood, and Newtown.

Current population of children and young people aged 0-19

According to the 2004 Office of National Statistics (ONS) Mid Year Estimate for Poole there are 31,400 children and young people in Poole aged 0-19, that is around 23% of the total population, lower than the proportion for England and Wales as a whole (25%), but not as low as Dorset (22%) and Bournemouth (21%).

Of those aged 0-19 in Poole 1,300 (4%) come from black or minority ethnic backgrounds[1]. This includes white Irish and white other. The corresponding proportion for England and Wales is 15%.

There is no significant difference between the number of males 15,900 (50.6%) and females 15,500 (49.4%). However, there are a higher proportion of children aged 15-19 (27.7%) and 10-14 (26.8%), compared to only 22.0% 0-4 year olds and 23.5% 5-9 year olds.

With the fall in the birth rate and a general net outflow of young people due to migration, the number and proportion of 0-19 year olds is projected to change significantly over the next decade.

Projected trends of children and young people to 2016

Figure 1: Trend of 0-19 year olds 1991 to 2016, Poole

Source: ONS Mid year estimates and 2003 based population projections

Between 2006 and 2016 the number of 0-19 year olds is forecast to fall by around 2,800 (9%). This is almost double the fall of 4.6% forecast for England and Wales as a whole. This fall will predominantly effect the 10-14 and 15-19 age groups (see Figure 1 above).

Map 2: Number of children and young people by area[2] in Poole, 2001 Census – please see next page.

IDENTIFYING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS

What we know...

  • The government estimates that 20-30% of children have additional needs at some point in their childhood requiring extra support from education, health and social services[3].
  • In Poole, around 7,700 children have been identified as potentially having additional needs[4]. This equates to around 25% of all 0-19 year olds (see Figure 3).
  • Of these around 1,300 children are vulnerable[5] and 290 are in receipt of protective services[6].
  • The Child Vulnerability Index (CVI)[7] illustrates the relative inequalities in child vulnerability that exist between wards. There is a particularly large divergence between the 4 wards, Alderney, Hamworthy West and East and Poole Town, and the rest of the Borough (see table 4).
  • Adverse outcomes are highly correlated with being on housing benefit, and the hotspots for children with additional needs are generally also in the more deprived neighbourhoods in Poole (see Figures 5 and 6). However, over a quarter of neighbourhoods in Poole are among the least deprived areas nationally.
  • Areas with high numbers of children with additional needs are mainly situated in Alderney and Hamworthy West, but significant pockets are also found in Canford Heath East, Creekmoor and Branksome East (see Figure 5).

Overall numbers of children and young people with additional needs

Figure 3: Facts and Figures: Children and Young People in Poole

High risk areas within Poole

Table 4: Child Vulnerability Index (CVI), by ward 2005

Ward / CVI
Alderney / 80.4
Hamworthy West / 78.6
Hamworthy East / 77.0
Poole Town / 76.1
Newtown / 53.0
Creekmoor / 49.7
Canford Heath East / 48.1
Branksome West / 43.2
Oakdale / 37.7
Canford Heath West / 34.0
Branksome East / 32.4
Parkstone / 24.8
Penn Hill / 20.2
Canford Cliffs / 14.0
Merley & Bearwood / 8.7
Broadstone / 8.7

Figure 5:Children with additional needsFigure 6: Index of Multiple

by Super Output Area (SOAs, Deprivation, 2004,

or neighbourhoods of 1,500 Income deprivation

Population), Poole 2005affecting children

LOCAL PATTERN OF OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Being Healthy in Poole

What we know...

  • In general children in Poole are healthy, infant mortality for 2002-04 is well below the national average (3.2 per 1000 in Poole compared to 5.2 for England and Wales), and between 2000-04 babies with low birth weight (<2500g) dropped from 7.5% to 6.8%.
  • Areas with the highest numbers of children with additional health needs are concentrated in Alderney and Hamworthy West (see figure 8). In one area in Alderney 9% have additional health needs.
  • The 2004 Multi-agency review of Services for Disabled Children identified 480 0-19 year olds with a severe disability. Almost a quarter of these live in Alderney and Newtown.
  • 3.75% of children in Poole were clinically obese when they started school (2004).
  • Poole has low under 18 conception rates (26.3 per 1000 compared to 41.5 per 1000 for England - 2004), and considerably higher than average improvements in reducing the rate of under 18 conceptions.
  • 111 10-18 year olds in Poole were referred to the Young Adults Drug and Alcohol Service (YADAS) in 2004/05. Highest rates were found among young people from Hamworthy East, Alderney and Poole Town.
  • For looked after children, Poole has a high proportion receiving health and dental checks (89% in Poole compared to 77% for England and Wales)

Figure 7: Children with adverse health outcomes by SOA in Poole 2005 – please see next page.

Staying Safe in Poole

What we know...

  • Overall crime in Poole reportedly fell by around 7% between 2003-04[8]. Offences per 1000 population were consistently lower in Poole during 2003-04 than for England and Wales (20.7 in Poole Jan-Mar 04, compared to 27.8 for England & Wales).
  • Areas in Poole Town, Alderney and Hamworthy West were most effected (see Figure 8).
  • 31 out of every 10,000 children in Poole are on the CPR (February 2006). This is above national and benchmarking averages (23 and 23 per 10,000).
  • 3775 children and young people attended Poole Hospital with accidental and non accidental injuries during 2004-05. This included a higher proportion of children from Alderney and Newtown, with 147 attending per 1000, compared to the average for Poole overall which is 122 per 1000 children aged 0-19.
  • The 2004 Bullying survey found 54% of children said they had experienced bullying at some time, 26% in the last six months.
  • According to Police victims of crime data around 870 children in Poole were victims of crime during 2004-05. In Poole Town, Alderney and Hamworthy East over 5% of children had been victims of crime during this period.
  • Poole has a strong fostering service. 85% of children are looked after in family placements. 95% of foster placements are with in-house carers within a 20-mile radius.

Figure 8: Children whose safety may be at risk by Area in Poole 2005

Enjoying and Achieving in Poole

What we know...

  • Around 1200 children aged 0-19 were at risk of low attainment[9] in Poole in 2004/05. Proportions of children with low attainment increases significantly with age. At KS1 5% had low attainment, at KS2 7%, and at KS3 15.5%.
  • Areas at greatest risk of low attainment in Poole are mainly clustered in Alderney and Hamworthy West, but significant pockets are also found in Canford Heath East, Creekmoor and Oakdale (see Figure 9 below).
  • Between 2000-05, Standard Assessment Tests (SATS) results have improved in Poole. The rate of those achieving at least level 4 at key stage 2, has risen from 65% to 74% for Maths and from 71% to 80% for English. This means Poole has reached the national average in maths and now exceeds the rate in English.
  • The Poole percentage of pupil’s taking GCSE examinations who achieved 5 or more grades A* to C was 62.2%, significantly higher than the national rate of 53.7%.
  • School attendance has improved over the past 3 years. The percentage of half days missed has declined from 5.81 to 5.43 between 2002-04 for primary school and from 8.25 to 7.44 for secondary schools, consistently better than the national average.
  • 97 young people aged 0-17, or 0.3% of the 0-17 population, have been identified as Young Carers. More live in Alderney, Hamworthy West and Newtown than in other wards.

Figure 9: Children at risk of low attainment by Area in Poole 2005

Making a Positive Contribution in Poole

What we know...

  • During 2004-05 450 children in Poole (1%) aged 0-19 had been excluded from school, were young offenders, or had committed acts of anti social behaviour.
  • In 2001 2.7% of children and young people aged 10-17 were cautioned or convicted. For 2003 this figure had fallen to 2.1%, lower than the national average of 3.3%.
  • Permanent exclusions as a percentage of the school population is 2.38% in Poole, lower than 2.63% nationally. For fixed tem exclusions this figure is 5.07% for Poole higher than the national level of 4.49%. (DfES school year 2003/04)
  • Concerns about the behaviour of young people score consistently highly when public views are sought. In the Poole Opinion Panel (Spring 2005) 58% of respondents felt teenagers were a fairly or very big problem in the case of antisocial behaviour.
  • In 2004 38% of 13-19 year olds In Poole were in contact with the Youth Service.
  • Areas most effected by exclusions and anti social behaviour in Poole are concentrated in Hamworthy East and West, with small pockets also found in Alderney, Newtown and Canford Heath East (see Figure 10).
  • Fewer youth or advice services are centred in those areas with more needs (see Figure 10).

Figure 10: Children excluded, committing acts of anti-social behaviour,

and young offenders, by Area in Poole 2005 (please see next page).

Achieving Economic Wellbeing in Poole

What we know...

  • Almost 5,400 children and young people in Poole had adverse economic outcomes[10] in 2004/05.
  • These include over 4,500 children in Poole (14.7%) who live in households receiving housing/ council tax benefits. Just over 55% of these children live in lone parent families.
  • In Poole 5.5% of 16-18 year olds were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in 2004-05, a lower rate than the national average of 7.7%.
  • 89% of Poole’s year 11 leavers entered education, training or employment with training

in 2004.

  • 77% of care leavers were in education, employment or training at age 19 in 2004-05, compared to a national average of only 56%.
  • Areas in Poole where young people have less good economic outcomes are clustered around Hamworthy West and Alderney with pockets also located in Branksome East, Canford Heath East and Creekmoor.
  • Less good outcomes are significantly correlated with being on housing benefit in Poole. Hence, areas with the poorer outcomes also tend to be the most deprived (see Figures 5 and 6) This is consistent with the findings of other studies linking child poverty and poor outcomes.[11]

Figure 9: Economic outcomes for children and young people by Area in Poole 2004/05

Chapter 4

CONSULTATION WITH CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE, PARENTS & EMPLOYERS

We want the Children and Young People’s Plan to reflect what children, young people and parents feel is most important to them and to be based on experience of what is needed and evidence of best practice.

We have consulted with the following:-

Children and Young People

  • 1,435 aged 4-19 through questionnaires, discussions and a Youth Conference on 26 October 2005.

Parents

  • Over 8,000 through mail shots, discussions and fun days.

Parents Voice

SureStart Partnership

Residents of Poole Housing Partnership

Parents Admission Open Days

Poole Shopping Centre

Fun Days for Families

GP Surgeries

Health Point

Parents of Children with Special Educational Needs

Parents of Children with Disabilities

  • Through a comprehensive review of services in 2004.

Voluntary Sector

  • Through questionnaires and a Conference in 2005.

Employees