The Listening Book will be given to specially trained practitioners in every setting, providing ideas and guidance on how to incorporate children's views into how their everyday services operate. There are currently around 50 settings in Kirklees where the book is already in operation, although the council hopes to have a practitioner trained in every setting by early next year.
"There are a lot of theory books about listening to children already available but no existing practical advice," said Gillian Butterfield, quality assurance manager for Kirklees Council. She said a number of other authorities had expressed an interest in purchasing the guide.
Since April 2008, all authorities have a duty under the Childcare Act 2006 to regard the views of children aged from birth to five in developing services. Kirklees is one of 20 authorities belonging to the Young Children's Voices Network, which was set up to support the duty.
