Children and Young People

Fight illiteracy in Gloucestershire
o Gloucestershire is one of the best counties to go to school in England.  We have good schools and hardworking teachers.  We have excellent levels of literacy.  Despite that, even one child leaving primary school unable to read or write properly is one child too many.
o In recent months we have been testing an experimental reading programme in Gloucestershire schools.  The Dancing Bears programme gives children who struggle to read and write extra targeted help to do so, using synthetic phonics.  The results have been really impressive, with parents and teachers reporting fantastic improvements.
o We want to do all we can to fight illiteracy in Gloucestershire.  We will roll this programme out to all primary schools in Gloucestershire that want to play a part.
 
The highest quality education for all Gloucestershire secondary schools
o We will pilot a scheme to help Gloucestershire schools offer more challenging exams, such as the IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate.  If they prove successful, we will examine offering the programme to all schools.
o We believe in choice and in trusting teachers – there will be no pressure for schools to take part.  If they want to, we’ll help with the cost.

Protect Special Schools, Grammar Schools and Single-sex schools
o Conservatives value all Gloucestershire schools and we stand by our record of defending them.  Saving special schools, such as Alderman Knight in Tewkesbury, or Belmont in Cheltenham is one of the Conservatives’ proudest achievements.
o Labour and the Liberal wanted to close 3 special schools, all the county’s single sex comprehensives and at least one grammar school.  They have never stated that they have abandoned these plans.
o Conservatives will keep fighting to protect Gloucestershire’s excellent schools, including special schools, grammar schools and single-sex schools.  We will never close a school for ideological reasons.

Tackling truancy
o One of our pledges at the last election was to fight truancy.  Children can’t get an education if they’re not in school – and too often truants become sources of anti-social behaviour and crime.  This year truancy in Gloucestershire has fallen to its lowest level this decade.
o The fight against truancy will continue to be a priority.

Streamline adoption and fostering procedures
o We know that the best place for children to grow up is with parents in a loving home.  Wherever possible we want to help children to live with their natural parents, offering help where there are difficulties.  However, for some children this just isn’t possible and the council needs to step in to protect them.
o Whilst care homes and short term fostering are a vital safety net, we know the best long term for young people in care is long term fostering and adoption.  Too often this can be a bureaucratic process that takes to long for potential adopters and foster parents – and indeed for the children themselves.
o Without compromising either child safety or the rights of birth parents, we will take steps to speed up the process of fostering and adoption.  We want to see a safe and fair process that helps those children who need it find a new home as quickly as possible.

£1.75m to refurbish youth facilities across Gloucestershire
o We know the benefit that good youth facilities can have in supporting education, in fighting crime and anti-social behaviour and in generally making life easier for both parents and young people.
o We have committed an extra £1.75m

Targeted help for parents and carers
o From talking to parents and carers we realise that caring for a disabled child day in and day out is not only physically but can be emotionally draining. Everyone needs a break now and then. Therefore we want to build on the success of the short breaks scheme. We shall work with parents to help address their needs and find appropriate care for their child or young person they you need it. We shall put parent and carers at the heart of everything we do.