Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

Regional Social Strategy – the strategy to achieve social inclusion throughout the East of England
There are other underlying trends which impact particularly intensely on young people from the region’s
deprived areas. Despite limited improvements, the performance at GCSE, for example, is not sustained post-
16 in some areas, with attainment at ‘A’ level or the equivalent vocational (GNVQ/NVQ) Level 3 qualification
remaining below the national average in 5 out of 10 local education authorities (LEAs) (Table 8: Level 3 point
scores of 16-18 year old candidates by gender in each local authority and Government Office region by the
end of 2005/6, DfES). Participation in education and work-based learning among 16 and 17-year-olds is also
below the national average in 6 of the region’s 10 LEAs (Participation in education and work-based learning
of 16 and 17-year-olds, LEAs Tables, 2005).
If learning is a key factor for reducing deprivation and increasing social inclusion, continued improvements are
required to target under-achievement among the significant minority of young people who fail to achieve basic
qualifications, particularly in rural and deprived areas where under-achievement is concentrated. Learning
providers will need to understand the demographic profile of their learners so that they can enhance access
to opportunities for hard to reach groups.
vi) Health
The numbers of children with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses are, thankfully, relatively low, though
the impact of such illnesses on the children concerned, and their families, is immense. Because of the small
numbers involved, and the time and emotional energy invested in their care, there are few resources such as
lobby groups to help such children and their families. This can compound isolation and frustration, particularly
for healthy siblings, for whom parental attention can seem to come at a premium.
It can also be a challenge to provide appropriate services to affected families, due to capacity issues and the
fact that health professionals can have limited experience of some of the rare and complex medical conditions
involved. This is particularly the case for babies born pre-term with multiple health issues, who are now living
longer than would previously have been possible.
27