Government needs to promote economic wellbeing of children

The government has been weaker on promoting economic wellbeing
than on the other four outcomes for children in Every Child
Matters, according to a leading civil servant,
writes Mithran Samuel.

Naomi Eisenstadt, head of the Sure Start unit, said that poverty
was the key barrier to children’s life chances, but the government
had prioritised the other outcomes, on children’s health, safety,
achievement and contribution to their communities.

She said: “I think we are really strong on the first four
outcomes and quite weak on the last (economic wellbeing).”

She added: “It’s harder to be healthy when you’re poor. It’s
harder to stay safe when you’re poor. It’s harder to do well at
school when you’re poor.”

Eisenstadt, who was addressing a session on integrating
children’s services at Community Care Live – Children and
Families, said it was vital that Ofsted’s new inspection
framework, which measures schools against the five outcomes,
“actually bites”.