Today we have published a new Needs Assessment for School-aged Children in Oxfordshire 2022.

Ensuring every child has the best start in life is one the key priorities of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID, formerly a part of Public Health England).

Investing in children and families and enabling children to thrive is a crucial part of achieving the Governments ‘Levelling Up’ agenda to reduce inequalities seen across the country. Delays in identifying and meeting the health and wellbeing needs of children and young people can have far reaching effects, impacting their chance of reaching their full potential and leading happy, healthy adult lives.

This Health Needs Assessment of school aged children (aged 5-19 years) has been carried out to gain a clearer picture of the needs of children, young people and their families across Oxfordshire. This will help to inform the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme, as part of the Local Authority’s responsibility to commission public health services for children.