Introduction to One Plan
Gloucestershire is a diverse county, rich in natural resources and steeped in history. We aspire to make the most of our many assets and be a county of opportunity, where people are healthy, resilient, prosperous and connected within communities and environments that nurture.
This plan sets out our ambitions for all children and young people in Gloucestershire based on what they, their families and professionals told us were their experiences and priorities.
The One Plan for children and young people in Gloucestershire has been developed with input from many and presents a vision and set of common activities to achieve that vision. Essentially, we asked the question, how do we become a county in which all children and young people thrive and can go onto live lives of choice and opportunity?
This is particularly relevant as the data and feedback from our children, young people, families, and communities shows us that, whilst our headline data is often good when compared with national data and sometimes our peer local authorities, it does not tell the same story for those who face the greatest disadvantage and barriers, protected characteristics, isolation and the intersection of these.
Our vision became...
A great place to grow up where children and young people thrive and live lives of choice and opportunity. To achieve our vision we commit to four objectives:
- Equity – close the gap and eliminate inequalities
- Access – right help at the right time for all children
- Inclusion – a county where everyone belongs and we celebrate diversity
- Quality – effective, outstanding services
To achieve these objectives, we have developed the three Pillars outlined below, all connected by a foundation of Living Well. Each has their own set of priorities that will enable us to deliver our objectives, and ultimately, our vision. These recognise the rights of every child as they grow and develop. They recognise the primacy of the family, the importance of our communities, and the critical role played by universal services in ensuring children and young people are afforded the health, education, safety, nurture, and freedoms we would want for our own children:
- Starting well – pre-birth through early years to reception age
- Growing well – primary through to early secondary
- Being well – middle teenage through post 16 to 25 years
- Living well – creating the conditions to thrive
Through our established partnership, the Children’s Coalition for Gloucestershire, we will deliver this shared strategy and take responsibility for holding the system to account to achieve its objectives. It is what we do, how we act and how we influence that will be key to the experience of our families and to children achieving their potential.