Every child in Southend deserves a good education

Our focus will be to make sure every child gets a good education regardless of where they are born and in what circumstances. We have some excellent schools in the borough and are really proud of all the staff who do so much to help our young people thrive. However, too often good practice is not shared between high-achieving and struggling schools, meaning some fail to improve year upon year.

Our focus will be to make sure every child gets a good education regardless of where they are born and in what circumstances. We have some excellent schools in the borough and are really proud of all the staff who do so much to help our young people thrive. However, too often good practice is not shared between high-achieving and struggling schools, meaning some fail to improve year upon year.

We will:

Promote an ethos of collaboration, not competition, between schools, creating forums where good practice can be shared so high-achieving schools support underachieving schools to improve.

Work to reduce teacher shortages by promoting Southend as a great location in which to teach, including opportunities to retrain from other professions.

Introduce a co-operative / community based model into our nine children’s centres so Southend people can support each other.

Work with schools to make sure that they:

• deliver age-appropriate sex and relationship education, including promotion of healthy relationships, understanding consent, and the reduction in violence against women and girls.
• adopt recommendations set out in the Southend Youth Council’s 1757 Voices Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing Charter.

Work with health providers to improve the availability of and access to mental health services, particularly for young people – for example by setting up walk-in and online support services.

Invest in new youth hubs, and improve our communications by using all available methods to reach young people where they are.

Work locally and collaboratively with existing projects to end period poverty.

Lobby Government to increase funding for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We will support schools in the development of an education programme that enables all SEND students to reach their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.

16+
Develop a skills-based college to train people to get jobs in Southend’s planned building projects.

Work with bus companies to provide cheaper travel for 16-18 year olds e.g. the introduction of Young Adult bus fares.

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