Council to focus on vulnerable children

A greater emphasis on support for Brighton & Hove’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children is set to be agreed on Monday 20 July.

Brighton & Hove City Council’s children, young people and skills committee is being asked to agree a set of strategic priorities to:

• Ensure that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children receive the council’s support, consolidating services where possible, and targeting resources at those most in need
• Take the council on an improvement journey to achieve excellent services for children and young people by 2019, as rated by Ofsted
• Provide greater challenge and support to council maintained schools to close the disadvantage and educational attainment gaps
• Eliminate long-term youth unemployment (18-24 years old) and boost apprenticeships in the city by 2019.

The chair of the children, young people and skills committee, Councillor Tom Bewick, said: “In an era of shrinking budgets and increasing demand for our services residents want to know what our real priorities are.

“We are saying loud and clear that our children’s services will be focused on ensuring that all our children and young people to have the support they need to fulfil their potential, whatever their background.

“This can only happen if we make sure their views are taken into account when services are being planned and delivered.”