What is life like for Children and Young People in Nottinghamshire?
Nottinghamshire is a large county, with a population of about 771,900 people. About 180,600 of these are children and young people (aged nought to nineteen).
In general, Nottinghamshire children and young people do as well as those in similar places elsewhere. Their health compares well with the average for England. The percentage of sixteen to eighteen year olds who are working or learning is higher than the England average. The number of young people committing crimes for the first time is going down. Although Nottinghamshire young people do less well in GCSE examinations than young people in other areas of England, exam results in Nottinghamshire have improved at a significantly higher rate than nationally.
However, there are large inequalities across Nottinghamshire, with some areas of high socio-economic deprivation. These are places where a high proportion of families are living in poverty, with family members less likely to be employed. We also know that there are poor families in places where most people are relatively well-off. Areas of high deprivation include many parts of Ashfield, Mansfield and Bassetlaw, and some parts of all other districts. For example, in Nottinghamshire, about 11.5% of children and young people are eligible for free school meals. This is about the same as for other similar counties, but varies across Nottinghamshire. About one in every six children and young people in Mansfield is eligible for free school meals compared to about one in eighteen in Rushcliffe.
National and local information shows that children and young people living in poverty are disadvantaged in many ways. On average, they do less well at school and are less likely to go into working or learning when they leave. They are more likely to have health problems and to die at a younger age. This is why we believe reducing child poverty is essential to ensure that all children and young people are able to achieve their full potential.
Some groups of children and young people may face particular difficulties and so may need more support. These are:
Children and young people with disabilities or learning difficulties
These children and young people are less likely to achieve at school or to go into working or learning when they leave. In Nottinghamshire, in 2008, 6.9% of young people with special educational needs achieved five or more good GCSEs (including English and maths) compared to 45.5% of other young people. In January 2009, 84.5% of sixteen to eighteen year olds with learning difficulties or disabilities were working or learning compared to 91.4% of all sixteen to eighteen year olds.
Children and young people from black or minority ethnic group.
In Nottinghamshire, 5.4% of children and young people aged nought to fifteen are from black or minority ethnic backgrounds, which is lower than the average for the rest of the East Midlands or for England. The highest percentages are in Broxtowe, Gedling and Rushcliffe, which border on Nottingham City. Some black and minority ethnic children and young people do less well than those from White British backgrounds. For example, boys from Black African, Black Caribbean or dual heritage backgrounds are less likely to achieve well at school.
Children and young people in local authority care
In Nottinghamshire, over 500 children and young people are in local authority care. This is lower than similar counties and suggests that we effectively support families to stay together. Children who are in local authority care do less well, on average, than others. At age sixteen, 22% of Nottinghamshire young people in local authority care achieved five or more good GCSEs compared to over 63% of young people who are not in care (2008 results). In January 2009, 76.5% of Nottinghamshire young people in local authority care were in work or learning, compared to 91.4% of all young people.
