There is a long term commitment, from all of our partners, to work towards making Birmingham a self-sustaining literate and numerate city. This is the vision of what Birmingham could be like at some time in the (not too distant) future. If this is the long term goal for Birmingham how will we know when we have 'got there'? Will this be when: Sufficient parents of 0-4 year-olds are able to give each other support and have heard 'messages' enough to create large-scale momentum in 'bringing on' children's development Libraries work with >50% of 1-3 year olds in their locality All pre-school settings have resources and skills re language/literacy/numeracy development >90% of under 5's have adequate levels of language development >80% of children enter school literate/numerate at expected level All primary schools are engaging >80% of parents via models that focus on their child's learning There is minimum disruption to 'flow' of language/literacy/numeracy enhancement at times of illness or family disruption Opportunities to enhance core skills are built in everywhere/at all times All schools are operating above recognised acceptable levels Pupil's learning is tracked, guided and targeted; with automatic support for those not making progress >90% of children reach level 4 at KS2; a further 5% at level 2 All families have the opportunity to use library services by the time their child is 7 In general, young people reach their teens seeing themselves as readers and writers and users of ICT Young people are aware of and make use of out-of-school support All routes to employability (14-25) are resourced and skilled re language/literacy/numeracy support >95% of school leavers continue engagement with education, training, employment 14-25 Young people are tracked (16-21), their progress is known, and non-progressors have targeted programmes There is a diverse range of adult basic skills support; all well skilled and resourced Employers support their staff in improving levels of core skills to meet, or exceed, those needed for the work in the future Members of the public feel comfortable enough with words, language and numbers to take fuller participation in public events >90% of adults are literate/numerate at level 1 If this is the kind of aspiration that Birmingham may have for itself, then we are already well on the way there - and the scale of the task still to be done becomes a set of manageable developments to be targeted in the Partnership's Business Plans for the near future.