We only get one chance at childhood and Chance UK wants to see every child have access to the support they need in order to help them thrive. Stay tuned for more of our thoughts and a summary on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill later this week 📚 📰 Want to find out more on why this bill is so important? Visit our Site now to read all about the devastating impact of primary school exclusions from the families themselves: https://lnkd.in/eQHdc_sk We want to hear your thoughts 💭 . Share in the comments below what you think is needed to help build a more nurturing education system for our children 👇
Chief Executive of Chance UK - transforming lives through early intervention | Chair of Contact | Trustee at SignHealth | Championing Child and Family Support
Is children’s crisis inevitable? I feel I’ve been talking about crisis in childhood for too long. Last year at Chance UK I spoke to a child who was excluded and suspended from school 17 times in a year – at 5 years old – and our ‘Too Young To Be Left Behind’ report highlighted escalating exclusions with almost every child excluded at Primary School having a special educational need or disability. But 2025 is already starting off better with a focus on children from the Government's Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill back for debate this week. It doesn’t solve everything (when has legislation every done that) but it is a step towards building an education system that nurtures every child. Key highlights include: 📚 Curriculum changes: No one wants changes for changes sake, but we know the current curriculum has huge gaps around social and emotional education – the stuff that helps children grow well. This review is an opportunity for lessons that can inspire kids and reduce exclusions. 🛡️ Strengthened safeguarding: Safeguarding is everyone’s concern, but those who most often see children are the ones who can spot changes or patterns over time, and the Bill will give schools and childcare settings an even greater role in protecting children from harm. 🏡 Support for home-educated children: Too many families I spoke to in 2024 removed their child from school because there wasn’t the support for their specific needs. This Bill gives the chance to understand and support those families who want to home educate, whilst also putting more money into schools to provide better SEND support 🧥 Affordable school uniforms: I’ve spoken this year to children sent home for not having the ‘right’ uniform, when at home there isn’t enough money to feed the whole family. This bill will place legal limits on branded items to make everyday uniforms more affordable for families. So this Bill does give me hope. And this is just the beginning—change only works if children and young people’s voices are heard at every step. Crisis isn’t inevitable. We only get one chance at childhood, and experiences in schools can have an impact for life. #Education #ChildrensWellbeing #TooYoungToLeaveBehind https://lnkd.in/ewN_cyrQ