As we start 2026, in my role as the lead councillor for Children’s Services I wanted to remind everyone of some of the reasons to be cheerful for the future of our children and young people.
We are one of the best performing areas in the country when it comes to helping children achieve the best possible start in life, with one of the highest levels of readiness for school, and very good access to nurseries and pre-schools.
Our primary and secondary schools provide good quality education, with excellent exam results – and we also help our children with special educational needs and disabilities to achieve results that exceed most of the rest of the country.
Our young people are supported well, and successfully go on to further and higher education, training and apprenticeships and employment, with far fewer left without education, employment or training than in most of the rest of the country. We have low levels of youth offending, and we have good quality services to help those at risk of getting into trouble.
Yet behind these figures, there are still children and young people who are vulnerable, at risk of harm, and who are living in poverty in our Borough. Children whose families cannot afford school uniform, or new shoes. Children who struggle to access education or to achieve their full potential. Children who rely on free school meals to get enough to eat. Children who experience domestic abuse or are at risk of exploitation. Children who struggle with anxiety, and who have disabilities. And children who are alone, without families to help protect and nurture them. The council will continue to do all it can to help and support children, especially those who are most vulnerable and most at risk. But the council is not the only organisation playing a part in helping children.
On behalf of all our children and young people, I would like to thank all the council staff who work so hard to protect children and young people, all the staff in our schools and early years settings, all the foster carers, the charities who support and work with and for children and young people in the Borough, for everything they have done in 2025 and will be doing in 2026.
A very Happy New Year to everyone. I hope 2026 brings you all health and happiness, especially the Borough’s children and young people.
Cllr Prue Bray, Executive Member for Children’s Services
