Children’s Strategies
Here you can view various different strategies related to children, young people and education.
In Trafford we are highly ambitious for our children and young people. Our vision is clear: we want every child to have the best possible start in life and for us that means we are committed to every child and young person feeling included, having a sense of belonging and the opportunity, to achieve and thrive. Having access to high quality learning from early years through to adulthood is key to this and we are committed to “no child being left behind” and genuinely having an inclusive education system.
This commitment is reflected in the educational achievements of our children and our brilliant schools and settings
Partnership working is at the heart of all we do and we work closely with schools and multi‑academy trusts, health and community partners, to help deliver our ambitions so children, young people and families feel the benefit of a genuinely joined‑up, inclusive system.
Trafford Family Hub Network
Trafford Family Hub Network is a partnership approach where families can get support and access Trafford’s “Start For Life” offer in their local neighbourhoods.
SEND Local Offer
Trafford’s SEND Local Offer describes the support available for children and young people aged 0 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and their families.
The Local Offer includes information about:
- Education and training options
- Health and social care services
- Personal budgets
- Travel to school and college
- Leisure and social activities
- Needs assessments
- Education, health and care (EHC) plans
Belong Programme
The Belong programme is helping schools and colleges across Trafford create more compassionate, supportive environments where young people can thrive. Belong supports education staff to better understand how early relationships and difficult experiences can shape the way young people think, feel and behave. By taking a trauma-aware approach, schools are building stronger relationships with students and helping them feel safer, happier and more ready to learn.
Trafford School Attendance Strategy
Excellent attendance is important for children and young people to get the most out of their school experience and achieve positive outcomes. Research shows those who attend school regularly benefit from improved emotional wellbeing, stronger social relationships, better educational outcomes and future employability. Improving school attendance is everyone’s responsibility.
We strive for all Trafford schools to be inclusive. The foundation of securing good attendance is that school is a calm, safe and supportive environment where all pupils want to be and are keen and ready to learn. Some pupils find it harder than others to attend school. At all stages of improving attendance, schools and partners will work with pupils and parents to remove any barriers
to attendance by building strong and trusting relationships and working together to put the right support in place.
Our vision
Our vision is for every child and young person to be supported to attend school every day, so they can reach their full potential.
We will achieve this by increasing overall school attendance and reducing the number of pupils who regularly miss school.
Trafford Early Years & Education Self Assessment
Improving Schools Together
Trafford’s Framework for Monitoring, Challenge, Support, and Intervention in Schools.
Trafford SEND Ambition Plan
Working together to improve the outcomes for children and young people in Trafford.
Trafford Alternative Provision Strategy
Trafford’s Framework for Monitoring, Challenge, Support, and Intervention in Schools Alternative provision is an intervention commissioned to support young people.
We believe that all Trafford children and young people should have their needs met, as far as possible, in their local community. We want our children and young people to be supported and empowered to make good educational progress and move on more easily to the next stage of their education and later into employment and independent adult life.
Alternative provision can play a vital role in supporting children and young people to remain in mainstream education by offering early, targeted support. It can offer time-limited or transitional places in alternative provision schools for pupils who need more intensive support.
Our Alternative Provision Strategy sets out the principles to help young people access the interventions that they need. Our access to a regional framework of over 80 local and national providers is accompanied by a good practice toolkit to ensure that support is safe, suitable and meets need.
Further Reading
At the heart of our strategy is a strong desire to ensure that all children cared for by the council achieve their maximum potential, and that through their lived experience in care they are equipped with the necessary resilience, knowledge, and skills to be successful, healthy adults.
The Trafford Council Corporate Plan 2025-27 outlines five key priorities for our children and young people:
1. The best start for our children and young people
2. Healthy and independent lives for everyone
3. A thriving economy and homes for all
4. Address the climate crisis
5. Culture, sport and heritage for everyone All these key priorities are best delivered for our cared for children when they live within their local communities and close to the services that know them well.
Please see the links below for further information:
- Inspection of Trafford local authority children’s services (2026)
- Inspection of Trafford local authority children’s services (2022)
- Trafford Safeguarding Children’s Partnership Annual Report 2024/25
- Sufficiency Strategy for Cared for Children 2025-27
- Previous Ofsted reports and monitoring visits outcomes
- Trafford Complex Safeguarding Annual Report 2024-2025