Drop in child poverty in York

Public Health England has this week released Child Health Profiles for City of York Council, which provide a snapshot of child health in the city.

Child Labour

Fewer children living in poverty

The key findings from the report show that the health and wellbeing of children in York is generally better than the England average and that children and young people under the age of 20 make up 21.7% of the city’s population.

The profiles help City of York Council to work in partnership to improve health in the local area. The profiles contain data on a wide range of issues about and affecting child health, from levels of childhood obesity, MMR immunisation rates, teenage pregnancy and underage drinking, to hospital admissions and levels of child poverty. Each profile provides two types of information: background demographic information about the children in each area; and comparative analysis with other local authorities across the country.

The data shows that in 2013 there were 2045 live births in York, which saw the number of children in the city aged between 0 and 4 remain at 10,700 and the number of children aged 0 to 19 increase to 44,000.  The findings project the number of children in York aged 0 to 19 by 2020 will be 44,900.

According to the child population section the life expectancy at birth of boys and girls in York is 79.4 and 83.5 respectively.   The regional figures for Yorkshire and Humber are 78.5 and 82.2 and nationally 79.4 and 83.1 putting York above the regional and national average.

The level of child poverty in York is better than the England average with 11.7% of children aged under 16 living in poverty, a fall of 1.4% since the last Child Health Profiles data was released.
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New IT system in York will benefit disadvantaged children

A new IT system will put children at its heart while freeing social workers to spend even more time with young people and their families.

kids-child-computer-860

The new MOSAIC system for City of York Council’s Children’s Services is a state-of-the-art system which will map the work being done with over 1,000 of the most vulnerable children and their families in the city, to ensure that they are given the right help at the right time to improve their life chances.

It will have a secure online portal which will allow parents, carers and the children and young people themselves to participate in the planning and review of the work being done to support them
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York Foster Care Fortnight launches major recruitment shift

Interested individuals, couples or those with families are being invited to meet local need for foster care for older children and young people who are unable to live with their own families.

Also, more experienced carers are being recruited to foster children and young people with additional needs such as learning or physical disabilities, for short breaks or the longer term.

Besides ongoing training and support for carers from the council’s team as well as from local foster carers, a financial package is provided that recognises the foster carer’s commitment and care and the level of need they support.
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South Bank schools academy proposals – parents meeting called

Millthorpe secondary school and two of it’s feeder primaries, Scarcroft and Knavesmire in South Bank, want to join forces and form an Academy

Prospective parents of any of the three schools are invited to attend a further formal information evening with Q & A .

It will take place on Tuesday 9 June at 7.00pm in the school hall at Millthorpe School.

Scarcroft School

 

Walk to school week

City of York Council is gearing up for Walk to School Week, which takes place between 18 – 22 May.

Nineteen primary schools across the city are taking part in this year’s campaign to encourage even more children to walk, cycle or scoot to school.

walking bus 2

Christine Packer, School Travel Advisor at City of York Council, said: “Walk to School week is a great chance for pupils who might not be currently walking, scooting or cycling to try changing the way in which they travel to school. This is a popular campaign in York which brings many benefits including improving the environment and health – children who walk to school are proven to be more alert in lessons. This also helps towards the 60-minutes of recommended daily exercise. ”

Jonathan Green, Head Teacher from Archbishop of York Junior school in Bishopthorpe, said: “We always encourage our pupils to walk and cycle to school, particularly during walk to school week because of the benefits to the children. Research shows those who cycle or walk to school can demonstrate a measurable increase in concentration that lasts for up to four hours. Plus, children feel healthier, they are sharper, more ready to learn and are more likely to arrive at school in a more positive frame of mind.”

Children aged five to 16 need to do at least 60  minutes of physical activity that gets their heart beating faster than usual and they need to do it everyday to help them keep fit and healthy.

Regular activity is also important for adults and it is recommended that adults make sure they’re active for just 30 minutes each day, or 150 minutes a week. Just walking their children to school and back each day will meet this target for adults.

The scheme is also targeted at families who normally take the car, and encourages them to consider walking, scooting or cycling to school instead.

Residents can find out more about changing the way they travel in York at: www.itravelyork.info/

Announcement of primary school place allocations in York as overcrowding grows

  • 92% of York children have been allocated their first preference primary school for September 2015.
  • 100% of York children have been allocated their first preference junior school for September 2015.
  • 8% of York children were allocated their 1st, 2nd or 3rd preference primary school. Need help or advice? – email education@york.gov.uk

Larger class sizes in York

The Council has also released details of overcrowding at some schools following a Freedom of Information request

In 2014 there were 8 infant classes with a size of over 30

These were at Poppleton Ousebank, Wheldrake, Elvington, St Lawrences, Bishopthorpe and Ralph Butterfield (3)

By 2015 this figure had increased to 12.

The schools affected are

  • Our Lady Queen of Martyrs,
  • Whedrake (2),
  • St Aelreds,
  • Elvington,
  • Bishopthorpe (5) and
  • Ralph Butterfield (2)

LibDems announce education manifesto

click to access

click to access

 

York Music Centre expands

A new weekend session for children and young people has been added by York Music Centre to its programme at Millthorpe School.

York Music Centre, run by York Arts Education and part of City of York Council, will offer a variety of choirs, ensembles, orchestras and tuition sessions each Saturday morning.

The session has moved from Canon Lee School and allows York Music Centre to consolidate provision with its Wednesday evening session at Millthorpe School from the end of February.

From Saturday 28 February, from 9.15am, York Music Centre will offer group music-making opportunities to children and young people aged 3 to 18 of all abilities.
These include top level ensembles such as Concert Band, Big Band and the Symphony Orchestra, entry level groups like Overture (for 3-5 year olds), WOW Band (for any instrumental beginners), Young Voices which helps develop singing and listening skills and World of Rhythm, run by Billy Hickling from the internationally acclaimed STOMP!
An adult choir is also available for parents and friends who don’t want to miss out on the fun.
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Family Information milestone in York as Labour plan cuts in children’s services

City of York Council’s award winning York Family Information Service (FIS) is celebrating 15 years of supporting families in York this year.

The milestone comes at a time when the Labour led Council is considering major cuts to children’s services including the popular children s centers. The scale of the reductions will be decided at a meeting next week.

Liberal Democrat Councillors will be opposing the cuts.

York FIS is a free and impartial information service for mums, dads and carers of children and young people aged 0-19 (or up to 25 for disabled children), providing help with family life.This ranges from childcare to toddler groups to youth clubs to support for a child with a disability.
The YorOK website provides advice about childcare, children’s centres, parenting, disabilities and additional needs and much more. It’s also possible to search the  directory which has information about groups or services that may be helpful to families in York.
If you’re a mum, dad or carer, and have a question but don’t know where to go, then call 01904 554444 or email fis@york.gov.uk or for a face-to-face chat visit the council’s West Offices.

For more information about York FIS visit http://www.yor-ok.org.uk/

Woodthorpe school reports on “pupil premium” success

Disabled access arrangements also being scrutinised

A report from Woodthorpe primary school, indicating how they have used the LibDem inspired pupil premium funding initiative, forms part of the background papers for a meeting next week.

The school received a supplementary payment of over £130,000 last year which was used to raise the achievement levels of children from poorer backgrounds.

The Woodthorpe review  forms part of a wider report which looks at how the “attainment gap” can be closed across the whole of the City.

A special committee had been told  that, by the age of 19, the gap in attainment between disadvantaged young people (as defined by them being in receipt of Free School Meals at age 15) and their peers in York were among the widest anywhere in the country

Disabled access

The meeting will also receive a report on how access arrangements for people with disabilities can be improved particularly at leisure venues.