ECM: Policy and guidance

last updated:02 Jan 2009

The Government launched Every Child Matters (ECM) in 2003, in response to the inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié.

ECM challenges those working with children and young people to put the child or young person at the centre of their efforts. They were to work more effectively together towards the following five broad goals for children and young people:

• Being healthy
• Staying safe
• Enjoying and achieving
• Making a positive contribution
• Achieving economic well being.

Since 2003, there have been further ECM related policy developments. The key documents, initiatives and players involved in these developments have been summarised by the GTC’s Policy team.

CPD implications

ECM undoubtedly presents new professional challenges for teachers. Continuing professional development (CPD) can offer teachers space in which to debate and understand changing contexts, and support to refine existing practice and development new knowledge, approaches and skills.

In 2007, the GTC initiated a project to look at the professional learning undertaken as schools reviewed their practice in the light of ECM.

New from Connect

Connect has brought together the following guidance to support the continuing professional development (CPD) of teachers seeking to improve their practice in relation to ECM:

• a summary of key developments in ECM that might suggest CPD needs on the part of teachers
• five themes identified by the 2007 project, with examples of good practice from around the country; these are designed to help CPD co-ordinators in schools to think about the professional learning opportunities that will help their colleagues contribute to the wider well-being and development of children and young people, as well as supporting their educational achievement
• a list of additional resources, including both GTC materials and links to other relevant organisations.