The partnership is dedicated to ensuring that children and families get the right support, at the right time, and in the right place.

This commitment is vital as we continue to respond to the challenges of COVID-19, and we will ensure that all children – particularly the most vulnerable – are connected to learning, friends and their communities. 

We will also make the most of the opportunities to build back better from the pandemic for current and future generations alike.

Our focus in responding now

We’ve set out four priorities for how we will respond to the challenges of COVID-19 between July 2020 and April 2021:

Preventing hidden harm and exploitation

  • We will protect children from the changing nature of criminal exploitation of young people and will continue our focus on domestic abuse, substance misuse and adult mental health. We will have a particular focus on the significant vulnerabilities of infants to harms within the household.

Supporting emotional health and wellbeing

  • We will offer extended services to support emotional wellbeing, mental health and recovery for children and young people.

Supporting return to learning

  • We will support the return to learning for all children, with extra additional support for vulnerable children and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Community focus

  • We will work alongside communities to offer targeted family support and early help, identifying where changes to jobs can affect communities and increase pressure in families.

We will remain flexible to any further local or national restrictions, and we will make sure that we always target support for those who need it most, even when circumstances change.