Empowering Futures: Growing Up Well in Warwickshire JSNA (2024) - Publications

The prevalence of mental health conditions in children and young people has risen in the last eight years.

More children and young people are accessing mental health services (CAMHS) locally, with the largest increase seen in those 0-4 and those 11-17.

Nuneaton and Bedworth has the highest rates of children and young people accessing mental health services in Warwickshire.

Warwickshire HPV vaccination rates are above the national average.

Chlamydia screening rates in 15-24 year-olds are low. Improving this will help prevent hidden infections that can have serious health consequences.

Whilst under-18 conception rates have been falling across Warwickshire there is variation across the county.

Whilst smoking rates have been falling, more can still be done to support smoke-free homes.

In recent years the number of children and young people who vape has become a growing concern. Vapes are not risk free, with illegal vapes becoming more dangerous as illicit substances are added with no regulation. If you don’t smoke, you shouldn’t start to vape.

Across the healthy lifestyle indicators in this JSNA (nutrition, oral health, physical activity, and obesity) there is variation in, and within, District and Boroughs.

There is a difference in uptake of Health Needs Assessments (HNA) between schools, which informs our analysis. Increasing this uptake will help to improve our view of children’s health.

There are differences in the HNA between parental (reception) and child (year 6 and 9) responses in terms of themes of concern.

There is a lack of available local data and information on vulnerable populations and their health needs.

Some children and young people in these vulnerable populations may experience health inequalities which have the potential to impact across their entire lives, not just in childhood.

A number of specialist teams that support these vulnerable populations were identified. Working with these teams, that have established trust, and developing new links will support children and young people to reach their full potential.

Since COVID-19 there has been an increase in the levels of identified SLCN.

There is a sharp drop in the number of pupils receiving SLCN support between primary and secondary school.

There is currently a lack of local data on children and young people with an asthma diagnosis or an asthma care plan.

There is variation across the county with the provision of technology for children and young people that can help monitor diabetes.

Good level of development (GLD) for reception pupils in Warwickshire was slightly above national average in 2025 but children living in areas of higher deprivation are less likely to achieve GLD.

Pupils eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) achieve significantly below their national peers and the gap between FSM and non-FSM in Warwickshire is also significant. However, this gap is smaller in the North of the county than in the South.

Children eligible for free school meals have lower attendance in the first term of reception than those who are not eligible. For term of birth, attendance in first term of reception is broadly similar, however outcomes differ with summer-born children less likely to achieve GLD than spring and autumn-born peers.

For rates of premature births and low birth weight, Warwickshire are broadly in line with national averages, with Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon districts statistically better.

Smoking at delivery has fallen across Warwickshire since 2014/15, although rates remain highest in Nuneaton and Bedworth.

South Warwickshire reports the highest breastfeeding rates, with 81% of babies receiving breastmilk as their first feed. George Eliot has the lowest percentage of babies receiving breastmilk as their first feed and the lowest percentage of babies who are partially or fully breastfed at 6 to 8 weeks.