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Support for children and families
10/12/2008
A transformational framework to improve the life chances of Scotland's children and tackle inequalities by targeting the early years was launched by the Scottish Government and COSLA today.
The Early Years Framework, developed in collaboration with independent experts during the past nine months, sets out a radical shift away from the culture of crisis management to early intervention. It also aims to build greater resilience within families and communities.
Children's Minister Adam Ingram said the new long-term approach is part of the Scottish Government's wider action to tackle disadvantage and health inequalities which blight the lives and futures of too many Scots. The next steps in this agenda are due to be unveiled tomorrow.
Under the Early Years Framework, areas where action will be taken to give children a better start include:
- A new focus on supporting parents to help their children and help themselves
- A new emphasis on the crucial birth to three period of a child's life
- Encouraging communities to become more engaged in supporting young children and their families
- Strengthening universal early years services and increasing the skills of the workforce
The Minister and COSLA Education, Children and Young People spokesperson Isabel Hutton will launch the framework at an Edinburgh pre-school which today received one of the best ever inspection reports for early years provision.
Mr Ingram said:
"Helping Scotland's young people fulfil their potential is at the centre of what this government wants to achieve and we know that the early years represent a golden opportunity, when positive action can have the biggest influence on a person's life.
"All children deserve the best start but this approach will have a particular impact on cycles of disadvantage like poverty, poor health and lack of opportunity which until now have held back too many Scots.
"As well as the lost childhoods, wasted potential and damage young people, families and communities the financial costs of failure in terms of poor health, lack of employment and criminality are enormous.
"By helping to ensure support is in place early we can offer better chances for those at risk, reinforce families, promote maternal health, tackle drug and alcohol misuse and strengthen communities.
"It's time to end the culture of crisis management that leaves risks to fester and this framework marks a new era with central and local government working together on the big issues facing Scotland."
Councillor Isabel Hutton said
"Local government in Scotland fully supports the vision and aspirations for our children and families described in the framework and we will work with our partners to turn this into reality.
"This is an ambitious and long term framework and it will take time to deliver the full extent of benefits and outcomes it sets out. With a 10 year horizon, the framework acknowledges the scale and complexity of the tasks we have set ourselves. Our job is only just beginning and we now have to turn our attention fully to successfully implementing this vision.
"Much can be done now to build on the excellent work already happening across Scotland but we need to be clear that this isn't a short term quick fix. All of Scotland's children deserve the best possible start in life and to have every opportunity to be safe, happy, healthy, well-educated and ambitious for their futures.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to help turn lives around and to lay positive foundations for current and future generations of Scots."
The framework outlines a number of priorities including the development of parenting capacity as part of ante-natal and post-natal services, better training and new roles in the early years workforce, an emphasis on supporting play and more co-ordinated birth to three services.
The new ethos will feed into the next round of Single Outcome Agreements between the Scottish Government and local partners in 2009/10.
Barnardo's Scotland Director Martin Crewe said:
"Barnardo's Scotland warmly welcomes the publication of the Early Years Framework.
"We know there are challenges in shifting service provision but we also know that the rewards are too great for us to miss this opportunity. If we are to improve long-term outcomes for children we must seize the golden moments of early childhood and work alongside parents to maximise the potential for Scotland's children."
Children in Scotland Chief Executive Dr Bronwen Cohen said:
"Scotland's youngest citizens require everyone's support. With reprioritisation of resources, this new framework will offer an important opportunity to offer more effective help to Scotland's often hard pressed families and ensure we get it right for every child."
The Early Years Framework (EYF) - which has been developed since March by four expert-led task groups - was published today.
The EYF was specifically identified for joint development in the Concordat which the Scottish Government signed with COSLA in 2007.
The last annual report from Scotland's Chief Medical Officer highlighted how a child's early development impacts future life chances.
The EYF is part of the Scottish Government's wider work to address poverty and inequality. As part of the drive, Minister for Public Health Shona Robison and Chief Medical Officer Harry Burns will tomorrow (Thursday) launch the Equally Well implementation plan.