Listen To The Children

10.21.04am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 31st May 2006

Top Priorities for the Council To Address - Keeping Safe, Enjoying & Achieving, and Concerns About bullying

'Listen to the Children' said County Councillor Mrs Margaret Featherstone, commenting on Kent's Children and Young People's Plan at the County Council meeting on 25 May.

She continued: "This is a Plan for Children and Young People, and we should listen carefully to what the children say. They tell us that their top priorities for the County Council to address are keeping safe, enjoying and achieving, and their concerns about bullying."

'Keeping Safe' is well addressed in the Plan. This will be reassuring to the Young People.

In response to their concerns about bullying, there is an undertaking to implement the Kent anti-bullying strategy. This one line response begs the question as to what KCC has been doing so far?

'Enjoying and Achieving' is interesting. The Young People asked for more out of school clubs, more safe opportunities to play, more teachers, and more school play equipment, and were concerned about lack of discipline in some classrooms.

The response in the Plan focuses on academic achievement and standards in schools and is important, but not a balanced response to the issues raised by the children. 'Enjoying' has been squeezed out, yet we know that children learn better when they enjoy learning.

In conclusion, Margaret Featherstone pointed to the importance of involving children and young people in plans, decisions and the progress made. She hoped to hear the children's comments when the Plan was revised.