The first evaluation report was published of the Flying Start programme in Wales. It included a baseline survey of families, and also explored the early influence of the programme.
Source: Emma Wallace, Sarah Knibbs, David Jeans, Sarah Pope, Anastasia Knox, Patten Smith, Jamie Burnett, and Ivonne Nava-Ledezma (with Lisa McCrindle, Marian Morris, Geoff White, and Karl Ashworth), Evaluation of Flying Start: Findings from the baseline survey of families – mapping needs and measuring early influence among families with babies aged seven to 20 months, Welsh Government
Links: Report | Summary | Appendices | Welsh Government press release
Notes: The Flying Start Programme was launched in 2006-07, aimed at making 'a decisive difference' to the life chances of children aged under 4 in deprived areas of Wales. It sought to improve child outcomes through the provision of key service entitlements, including enhanced health visiting support and evidence-based parenting courses.
Date: 2011-Dec
A research report highlighted the value of the registered childminding sector to the Welsh economy. The sector was worth an estimated £122 million through the direct income of childminder businesses and associated income for families who used the care provided by childminders.
Source: The Economic Impact of the Childminding Sector in Wales, NCMA Cymru
Links: Report | NCMA press release
Date: 2011-Nov
The children's rights watchdog in Wales highlighted the 'inconsistent support' and lack of accurate information available to vulnerable young people in care as they started planning for their move into independent living.
Source: Lost After Care, Children's Commissioner for Wales
Links: Report | CCW press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Jul
A study found that meeting the Welsh Government's target of eradicating child poverty by 2020 would mean that the rate would have to fall four times more quickly over the next 10 years than it had over the previous decade. The latest figures also showed that almost 1 in 4 people in Wales across all age groups – 680,000 in total – were in poverty.
Source: Anushree Parekh and Peter Kenway, Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Wales 2011, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Links: Findings | JRF press release
Date: 2011-Jul
An annual report examined indicators of well-being among children and young people (aged 0-25) in Wales.
Source: 2011 Children and Young People s Wellbeing Monitor for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government | Odette Parry et al., Voices of Children and Young People in Wales Study: A qualitative study of wellbeing among children and young people under 25 years old, Welsh Assembly Government |
Links: Report | Summary | Summary (Welsh) | Qualitative research
Date: 2011-Apr
The consumer rights watchdog in Wales examined the extent and nature of financial exclusion experienced by young people leaving care in Wales. It highlighted the 'challenging' experiences many young people faced as a consequence of living on a low income, being ill-equipped to deal with their financial situation, and being denied access to basic financial products.
Source: From Care to Where? How young people cope financially after care, Consumer Focus Wales
Links: Report | Consumer Focus press release
Date: 2011-Mar
The Welsh Assembly Government responded to a report by an Assembly Committee on child poverty in Wales. It said that reducing child poverty was a fundamental element of its social justice agenda.
Source: Welsh Assembly Government Written Response to the Children & Young People Committee's Report – Follow Up Inquiry into Child Poverty, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Response
Notes: Report (February 2011)
Date: 2011-Mar
An annual report examined the well-being of children and young people (aged 0-25) in Wales. There were a number of areas where progress had been made – such as infant mortality rates, the number of children being killed by road accidents, and the number of adolescents taking up smoking. But nearly 1 in 3 children in Wales (32 per cent) were living in poverty – unchanged compared with the previous report.
Source: 2011 Children and Young People s Wellbeing Monitor for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Report | WAG press release | Action for Children press release
Date: 2011-Mar
The Welsh Assembly Government responded to a report by an Assembly Committee on parenting support in Wales.
Source: Response by the Welsh Assembly Government to the Report of the Children and Young People Committee: Parenting in Wales – The Delivery of the Parenting Action Plan, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Response
Notes: Report (January 2011)
Date: 2011-Mar
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales summarized the work that it had done (since 2007) on issues relating to children and young people.
Source: Legacy Report, Children and Young People Committee, National Assembly for Wales
Links: Report | NAW press release
Date: 2011-Mar
The Welsh Assembly Government published a policy statement on childcare provision. It identified three key strategic priorities – quality, affordability, and access. Delivering on these priorities would help it to develop an integrated approach to childcare that met the needs of children and also supported parents.
Source: Nurturing Children, Supporting Families, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Policy statement | WAG press release
Date: 2011-Feb
A joint inspectorate report in Wales said that youth offending services had improved: but that further work was needed to address inconsistencies.
Source: Joint Review of Youth Offending Services (YOSs), HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales/Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales/Healthcare Inspectorate Wales
Links: Report | HMCIETW press release
Date: 2011-Feb
The Welsh Assembly Government published a new strategy for tackling child poverty. It restated its target to eradicate child poverty in Wales by 2020.
Source: Child Poverty Strategy for Wales, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Strategy | WAG press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Feb
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales examined some of the issues faced by children living in poverty, and how education could play a part in tackling them. The Welsh Government needed to work harder to implement a stigma-free school meals system.
Source: Follow Up Inquiry Into Child Poverty: Eradication Through Education?, Children and Young People Committee, National Assembly for Wales
Links: Report | NAW press release | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Feb
The Welsh Assembly Government responded to a report by an Assembly Committee on young people not in education, employment or training.
Source: Welsh Assembly Government Response to the Enterprise and Learning Committee's Recommendations in the Report: Young People not in Education, Employment or Training, Welsh Assembly Government
Links: Response
Notes: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales said that parenting support services should be easily accessible across Wales. It recommended that the Welsh Government appoint local 'parenting champions' to ensure that services were as joined up as possible and that parents had access to the information and services that they required.
Source: Follow Up Inquiry Into Parenting in Wales and the Delivery of the Parenting Action Plan, Children and Young People Committee, National Assembly for Wales
Links: Report | NAW press release
Date: 2011-Jan
A think-tank report said that play and leisure services for disabled children and young people in Wales were 'poor'. There was simply not enough to do; and where activities were available, they were often not accessible or children's enjoyment of them was marred by negative attitudes.
Source: Victoria Winckler, Fair Play for Disabled Children and Young People in Wales, Bevan Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jan
An article examined the extent of differences in youth justice in the United Kingdom, particularly as expressed in the action plans, criminal justice reviews, frameworks for action, delivery plans, and offending strategies that had been published since 1998 in the four administrations of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Source: John Muncie, 'Illusions of difference: comparative youth justice in the devolved United Kingdom', British Journal of Criminology, Volume 51 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
