Agenda item

Purpose: To give an overview of the Survey result for West Berkshire to the Board.

Jim Davis and Joanna Petty from the Children’s Society introduced the item to Members of the Board. The aim of the item was to inform them of the finding of a survey, which had taken place in early 2015 into the happiness and wellbeing of children and young people in West Berkshire.

The Survey had been followed by face to face consultations with the children. Results had been compared to a national comparator survey.

In total 2000 children and young people had taken part in West Berkshire across nice schools. 169 children had then taken part in the face to face consultations. It was clear from the results that children and young people in West Berkshire had levels of wellbeing that were as good or in some domains higher than the national average. There was a drop in wellbeing during the transition period from primary to secondary school however, this was in line with the national trend.

There had been a fairly even gender split in those completing the survey at 51% girls to 49% boys. The Child Wellbeing Index had been used as a basis for the survey.

Children and young people with low wellbeing were fairly in line with the national average at 8%. Wellbeing declined from the ages of 11-12 years old up to 16-17 years old, which was in keeping with that seen nationally.

Children who were not feeling happy were usually experiencing something else and the three most common issues nationally were; having a disability; difficulties learning or experience of bullying.

Of those children surveyed only 5% were eligible for free school meals, which was lower that the national average.

There was little difference in the level of wellbeing between boys and girls. Nationally this usually differed however, in West Berkshire the levels were in similar proportion. At the adolescent stage, girls were noticeably more unhappy about their appearance, which was inline with the national trend.

19% at primary school level and 13% at secondary school level had believed they had a caring responsibility. There was however, uncertainty around whether this question had been misunderstood, for example, some may have considered babysitting a caring responsibility. There were however, children in some consultation groups, which had confirmed they cared for a sick or disabled relative.

On attitudes to health behaviour and sport, it was found that that the majority of children reported taking exercise or being involved in sport regularly, especially for primary age children. The vast majority of secondary age children thought that smoking and drug taking were unacceptable behaviours for people their age. More girls than boys aged 15-16 years old felt that it was ok to go out someone who was 18 years old plus.

Dr Lise Llewellyn asked if the results could be compared to similar areas rather than a national average. Jim Davis reported that the national dataset could not be broken down, so it would depend on which other areas they had visited.

Dr Llewellyn noted that there was there was a relatively small proportion of children from low income families, but that these children had lower levels of happiness. Jim Davis reported that the Children’s Society also carried out work around school experience and poverty. Schools meals was a considered crude indicator of poverty.

Councillor Mollie Lock was disappointed that only nine schools had taken part and asked if these schools had been in rural or urban locations. Jim Davis confirmed that there had been a mix of locations. There was further work to take place around deprivation and transport. Councillor Lock asked if there had been an opportunity to visit schools for the more vulnerable or Pupil Referral Units (PRUs). Jim Davis stated that unfortunately the opportunity had not arisen.

It was requested that the full consultation report be circulated to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

RESOLVED that Jess Bailiss would circulated the full survey report.