The Children Act

The Government has made keeping children safe a priority, aiming to ensure all children have the chance to fulfil their potential by reducing abuse and neglect; improving educational attainment; and cutting crime and anti-social behaviour. The Children Bill was unveiled on 4 March 2004 in response to the green paper, Every Child Matters. On 15 November 2004, the Children Bill received Royal Assent and became the Children Act 2004.

The Children Act has been welcomed by the County Council, with many of its aims and objectives well on the way to being achieved in Hampshire. In particular, there is considerable partnership work already underway between the many agencies who work with and support children.

In July 2004, a Children's Services Board was set up to oversee the County Council's response to the Children Act. The Board has been meeting regularly to look closely at the real opportunities which exist to make improvemnets to services for children through extended partnership working. In October we published our first consultation paper to staff and stakeholders. We received a good response to this, and in February a second consultation document was launched. Both these consultations seek a wide range of views on the future shape of services.

This website provides details of progress to date and plans for the future.