ContactPoint

We all want our children and young people to get the best possible start in life, but what if your child needed extra support?

ContactPoint, a new government initiative, aims to ensure that they can get access to this support when they need it.

It can take a long time for someone working with a child (e.g. a doctor or a social worker) to find out who else is working with them, delaying the help your child may need.

ContactPoint is a directory that will provide people who work with children and young people with a quick way to find out who else is working with the same child, making it easier for them to work as a team and deliver more coordinated support. 

Some key facts

· Name and address for each child’s 
- Parents or carers;
- School and doctor;
- Other services (eg health visitor).

· By law, ContactPoint cannot hold any details like doctors’ notes or school records and will use the latest technology to keep the information safe and up-to-date.

ContactPoint is expected to start in October 2009 and further information about the system will be published later this year, including arrangements for how you can see the information about you held on ContactPoint.

In the meantime, if you want more information about this, see Every Child Matters at the website everychildmatters.gov.uk