Healthier Kids Scheme Successful

An initiative aimed at improving the 'life chances' of children and young people by enhancing their educational development and fostering their health and well-being has been hailed a success.

Children and young people have benefited from the Children and Young People Funding Package (CYPFP), according to a report from the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) and the Office of Social Services in the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

The report, launched today by the Chief Inspector, Marion Matchett, evaluated the impact of several strands of the package in the greater Newry area.

The report indicates that the additional funding has had a positive impact in beginning to improve the health, well-being and learning outcomes for children, young people and families in the area.

The CYPFP was launched in March 2006 by the then Secretary of State and aimed to reduce underachievement and improve the life chances of children and young people by enhancing their educational development and fostering their health, well-being and social inclusion.

Explaining the background to the CYPFP, Ms Matchett said: "The pace of the implementation of the Children and Young People Funding Package was challenging to all those involved, especially the short timescales in the allocation and distribution of funding. Nevertheless, our findings indicate that many of the programmes funded have already brought benefits for those who are most in need of help."

Ms Matchett also stated: "The money has enabled the implementation of child protection modernisation reforms and has resulted in an increase in the availability of qualified counsellors through the Independent Counselling Service in Schools. The Extended Schools element of the fund has also led to increased motivation amongst pupils and a better awareness of health-related matters and of the importance of learning across the wider community."

The report also highlighted a number of actions that could improve further the outcomes for learners, including the availability of continued, long-term investment over agreed and more manageable timescales, in order to sustain the achievements gained for children and young people. In addition, better communication and collaboration between the agencies and schools involved is required.

(BMcC)