But the lessons learned (see feature, page 20) have yet to permeate therest of the country. Services are mostly inadequate and fragmented, andmuch of the new investment in children's centres and extended schools isbeing made without taking into account the needs and views of disabledchildren and their families.
Little wonder then that campaigners have been asking for something morefrom the Government. What they have, so far, is the inclusion by theTreasury of a cross-cutting review on disabled children as part of thepreparation for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review. This has beenhailed by those who work with, and campaign on behalf of, disabledchildren as a fantastic opportunity. It is a chance to co-ordinate andgive structure to Government policy and ensure that the needs ofdisabled children and their families are taken into account in everyGovernment department's bid for funding.
It is also an opportunity for disabled children, young people, theirparents, and professionals in the children's services sector, to airtheir views and ensure that important matters are heard. The terms ofreference for the review will be launched within the next couple ofweeks, to be followed by a series of consultation events andseminars.
It is vital that frontline professionals and their managers, as well aslocal politicians, are engaged in this process, so that they arecommitted to implementing the goals and recommendations that come fromit. They need the opportunity and, in turn, must make use of theopportunity to communicate what support and investment they need to makesure that every disabled child matters, along with all otherchildren.
No matter what the cross-cutting review achieves by way of bringingcoherence to central government policy, it is at a local level that thereal difference will be made.
- Stovin Hayter, editor, Children Now.
