The Children Act 2004 set out the national framework for delivering children’s services, and identified the Every Child Matters five outcomes for children and young people, which all professionals must work towards. 

The Government's aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to:

• Be healthy
• Stay safe
• Enjoy and achieve
• Make a positive contribution
• Achieve economic well-being

Challenging bullying, discrimination and harassment is a key element in Outcome 2: Stay safe and bullying also is explicitly referenced in Outcome 4: Make a positive contribution. However the impact of bullying relates to all five outcomes.

The following summarises the aims, targets and indicators for Outcomes 2 and 4:

Outcome 2: Stay safe
Aim: Children and young people need to be safe from bullying and discrimination
Key target and indicator: reduction in the percentage of 11-15 year olds who state that they have been bullied in the last twelve months

Outcome 4: Make a positive contribution
Aim: Children and young people are helped to develop positive relationships and choose not to bully or discriminate
Key target and indicator: reduction in the percentage  of 10–19 year olds admitting to a).bullying another pupil in the last twelve months, b) attacking, threatening, or being rude due to skin, colour, race or religion

The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) inspections will evaluate how schools are contributing to meeting these outcomes, and as a result, how they are supporting the local authority in meeting their targets in relation to the five outcomes.

In addition to the Every Child Matters outcomes, the Children Act 2004:

• Establishes the duties to ‘co-operate to improve well-being’ and ‘to safeguard and promote welfare’ of children and young people for the statutory agencies.
• Makes local authorities responsible for publishing an integrated Children and Young People’s Plan, which describes how they intend to deliver outcomes specified in the Every Child Matters framework.
• Gives local authorities the responsibility for setting up a Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).  Bullying should be part of the remit of the LSCB.
• Gives local authorities the responsibility for the arrangements to set up Children’s Trusts, local partnerships between the public, private voluntary and community sectors.

For further information, please visit Every Child Matters.