The National Service Framework for Children,Young People and Maternity Services (external website) is a government 10-year programme for improvements in children’s health. It sets standards for health and social services for children, young people and pregnant women. It aims to ensure fair, high quality and integrated health and social care from birth, right through to adulthood.
The government's aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to:
- Be healthy
- Stay safe
- Enjoy and achieve
- Make a positive contribution
- Achieve economic well-being.
These are often referred to as the Every Child Matters outcomes. More information is available from the Every Child Matters website (external). A summary of the specific outcomes and targets is given in the outcomes framework (PDF 53k).
National Minimal Standards published by the Secretary of State for Health cover a range of health and care issues. The standards for the following settings are available in PDF documents from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) website (external).
Ofsted has developed the following national standards for under 8s day care and childminding. They are available in PDF documents from the Childcare link website (external).
The National Children's Bureau website (external) gives details about the Healthy Care Standards and the Healthy Care Programme developed by the Bureau for improving the health and well-being of looked after children and young people.
Guidance by Sure Start for Children’s Centres (external website) includes good practice standards for providing a range of health related services such as promoting public health, maternity services, teenage pregnancy and speech and language development.
