The Children Act 2004 and the policy document Every Child Matters: Change for Children state that local agencies have a duty to ensure children and young peoples wellbeing and welfare. As part of this process the Government asked all areas to produce a single, strategic plan covering all services affecting children and young people up to the age of 19 years, or up to the age of 25 for young people with learning disabilities and those over 19 who have left Local Authority care.

This plan must cover each of the 5 outcomes which are set out in Every Child Matters and these are:

• stay safe
• Be healthy
• enjoy and achieve
• make a positive contribution
• achieve economic wellbeing

Although it is everyone's responsibility to help all children achieve these outcomes the Local Authority has the lead responsibility to ensure the plan is produced.

Local authorities consult with their partners and the community to agree clear targets and priorities for all services affecting children and young people. The actions needed to achieve these targets are then identified and these are regularly monitored to ensure real change is happening. This information is then used to produce the Children and Young Peoples Plan.

The plans produced by Middlesbrough Children, Families and Learning can be opened via the links below.

Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough C&YP Plan 08.pdf
Children and Young Peoples Plan 2007-2008.pdf
Middlesbrough Children & Young People's Plan 2006-2007