It takes politicians of rare vision to frame policy with children in mind. It should be built around the concept of 'nurture', beginning in the earliest years. Children need love and care; physical contact, comfort; security; nutrition; play, exploration, managed risk; friends; education; expectation, values and purpose in life alongside appropriate, evidence and needs-led services, with full protection of human rights.
The nurture of children should be everybody's business, but we in the UK still fail too many of our children. We have the worst outcomes for their wellbeing in the developed world, a steep decline in reading, mathematics, languages and science, with poor outcomes for children's health, especially mental health.
It is for the Government to signal that children matter and to ensure that resources are allocated to promote their best interests. We need from Government:
- - Political philosophy that treats children as a vital priority and as citizens today
- - Commitment to children from the very top, especially for the most vulnerable
- - Policy addressing all the key needs of children and not just education
- - Clear vision, objectives and outcomes
- - Integrated responsibility for all aspects of children's policy across government
- - Delivery framework, including local government responsibility
How does the present coalition perform against all this? Not well.
I call on the children's sector to be more effective in advocating the needs of children, especially at this time of financial and political turmoil. How can you be involved? I should be delighted to hear of your suggestions.
Sir Al Aynsley-Green was first children's commissioner for England, 2005-2010.
Send suggestions to: annette.rawstrone@haymarket.com and al@aynsley-green.com
