Does every child matter, post-Blair?

THE BLAIR government made big promises and even bigger policies to improve the care of children in Britain.

Sure Start, Early Years, Every Child Matters and a raft of initiatives including free fruit and the much-heralded 'end of child poverty' drive made the headlines. Yet, for all their words and actions, did the Labour 'culture shift' filter through to real improvements for children?

A new study will consider how disabled children and their families in particular have fared in the Blair years?

A team from Manchester Metropolitan University and Newcastle University is to engage with parents, children and professionals to explore the impact of the Every Child Matters agenda to judge how far the rhetoric has become reality.

Affects one in 25

Disability in childhood affects nearly four children and young people in every 100, but their needs and experiences have received little public service or research in the past.

The study will look at the adequacy of existing theories and the ways in which forms of 'enabling healthcare', 'inclusive education' and 'accessible leisure' can work together. It also considers to what extent professionals have adapted their practices in light of the Government's agenda.

Professor Dan Goodley, of MMU's Health and Social Change Research Institute, said: "Much has been said about how we want every child to 'stay safe', 'enjoy and achieve' and 'make a positive contribution'. But how much progress is being made?

"Every Child Matters was introduced in 2003. Our focus is how these policy shifts have impacted on children, their families and professional practices and how they could have negative and well as positive effects."

Observing families

The researchers, critical community psychologists and sociologists will conduct focus groups with a mix of professionals and spend 18 months observing families as they participate in health, education and leisure.

The outcomes of the project, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, will have implications for parent organisations, practitioners, policy makers and organisations for disabled people.

The project starts in July 2008.

For more information, please contact:
Dan Goodley, Professor of Psychology and Disability Studies
Research Institute for Health and Social Change
Manchester Metropolitan University
Tel: (+44) 0161 247 2526
d.goodley@mmu.ac.uk

The Research Team are:
Professor Dan Goodley, MMU
Dr Katherine Runswick Cole, MMU
Dr Janice McLaughlin, Newcastle University

Visit the website www.rihsc.mmu.ac.uk/postblairproject.