Five Key Outcomes

The Children Act 2004 describes five key outcomes that are used to measure the progress that children and young people are making towards realising their full potential.

i) Being healthy
Children and young people are physically healthy; mentally and emotionally healthy; sexually healthy; have healthy lifestyles and choose not to take illegal drugs.

ii) Staying Safe
Children and young people are safe from accidental injury and death; safe from mal-treatment, neglect, violence and sexual exploitation, safe from crime and anti-social behaviour in and out of school and have security and stability and are cared for.

iii) Enjoying and achieving
Children and young people are ready for school, attend and enjoy school; achieve educational standards at primary school; achieve personal and social development and enjoy recreation; and achieve recreational standards at secondary school.

iv) Making a positive contribution
Children and young people engage in decision-making; support the community and environment; engage in law-abiding and positive behaviour in and out of school; develop positive relationships and choose not to bully and discriminate; develop self confidence and successfully deal with significant changes and challenges; and develop enterprising behaviour.

v) Achieving Economic Well-Being
Children and young people engage in further education, employment or training on leaving school; are ready for employment; live in decent homes and communities; have access to transport and material goods and live in households free from poverty.

Further information, including a useful framework diagram, is available from www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/childrens-trusts/outcomes-for-children.

The Strategic Partnership for Children, Young People and Families uses the five outcomes to set targets and plan service improvements. Performance is measured against these outcomes. See the performance section of this website for further information.

Back to the top of the page