CYP core 3.7

A description of the social, economical and cultural factors that will impact on the lives of children and young people.

This takes action to ensure children and their families know what their rights are and how to put this entitlement into practice. Children are empowered to secure their rights and make their voice heard. Young children can be represented by an advocate to speak and interpret on their behalf.

If a child is in poor health then this will have an impact on their development. For example, a child with uncontrolled asthma or cystic fibrosis may not be able to run around and be as active as their peers. Therefore, this would mean that his physical development might not be the same. Not being able to play outside would almost certainly affect the social development, as children make many friendships on the playground and at after school clubs.

Support is offered to children to enable them to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being.

Describe with examples the kinds of influences that affect children and young people’s development, including:

The Every Child Matters (ECM) 2004- The main points of this act regulates care of children is to protect and promote the welfare of children. Being healthy, achieving goals and being involved in different activities.

The area a child grows up in has an effect, for example if a child is brought up on a council estate in poor housing they are more likely to have health problems. If parents are not working or have low income jobs they are likely to buy cheaper food and usually this means lower quality which can lead to health problems. Children and their families may have lower expectations. They might settle for the life that id mapped out. If a child lives in high rise flats or appartments they have less oppportunities to play. In poor quality housing there may not be a garden or safe playing area. This is reducing the childs opportunities to develop their physical gross motor skills. This of course is not always the case

Furthermore, some people argue that it is not only the elderly who experience discrimination because of age. Young people also experience age discrimination in many ways. For instance young people often find it difficult to get started in employment market. Even though many young people who are working are paid minimum wage, there are 2.8 million children living at poverty in Britain, and young people are leaving universities with large student loans and graduate unemployment is high. According to Marxists the young provide cheap labour that can be fired or hired as necessary. Marxists would use the reserve army of labour for age groups at both ends of the spectrum.

Children and young people often experience many things which have a direct impact on their development; things such as their family environment and structure, personality, hospital visits, childcare arrangements, and culture.

• Provision needs to be inclusive & reflect/meet the needs of all children irrespective of their background or ability.

Furthermore, when It comes to children of poorer families trying to get a job at the age of 22, they still are going to face challenges compared to a child with money. Their parents won’t know as many connections compared to someone who works with high income people, who can help get a young adult a job.

It is assumed that ECEs make the development of the children in their care, their first and foremost concern. They respect the child as a whole person; respecting their dignity, uniqueness and potential. This also carries forward to how the ECE view the child’s family. ECEs understand that a child’s family is the most valuable part of their health and wellbeing. We must respect the diversity and form a partnership based on trust and openness.

As part of the Every Child Matters (ECM) program, Shelf J&I School takes a whole school approach in implementing the 5 National Outcomes of this agenda. Its main aims are for every child, whatever their background or circumstances, to have the support they need to:

My area of interest is working with the youth in my local community; therefore, I chose to attend a Children’s Policy Council (CPC). I felt this meeting would be informative because I generally attend these meetings once a quarter, and I have always walked away with a plethora of knowledge. My hopes were to be updated on what was happening in and around the Bullock County area that involved children.

Parents, carers, families and teachers are the most important influence on outcomes for children and young people. The Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme aims to ensure that support for parents becomes routine, particularly at key points in a child or young person’s life. (http://www.crin.ch)