Common core

The common core of skills and knowledge for the children and young people's workforce sets out the basic skills and knowledge needed by people (including volunteers) whose work brings them into regular contact with children, young people and families. By using a common language, it will enable professionals to work together more effectively in the interests of the child and underpins successful integrated working.

Full information can be found on the Every Child Matters website   

Common core - postcard

Integrated working updates

Our monthly integrated working update is packed full of useful information to help you implement integrated working, including the latest policy and guidance, top tips and real life examples. Sign up now or read the common core update in our archive section.

Refresh of the common core of skills and knowledge

The 2020 Strategy sets out a plan to look over the six areas of the common core and explore whether they are the right ones. It will also review how to make sure that everyone who works with children and young people knows what they are and how to use them. We are leading this work, which is due to be completed in March 2010. We will be consulting with many different people between June and September 2009, including mothers and fathers as well as practitioners.

Improving understanding of the common core

Last year, we ran a number of projects with children and young people from across England who, with their workers, looked at ways to visually and linguistically communicate the benefits and impact of the common core in improving outcomes for children and young people. View the end results of this project including the final project report on the 'Different people, same skills' page.