The taskforce’s Vision and Priorities paper identifies priority areas for action, which build on the Scottish Government’s Early Years framework, and sets out practical steps to implement change.
Established in 2011, the Early Years Taskforce brings together key influencers and champions of the early years in Scotland, including national and local government, the health sector, social work and early learning.
One of the priority areas identified is the need to deliver prevention and early intervention to tackle problems early on, which it says can be done by existing early years services.
The paper outlines ways in which the Scottish Government will support settings to implement the changes in what it is calling ‘The Early Years Change Programme’, including the creation of a Practice Development Team that settings can draw expertise from.
A report that details the skills, knowledge and values employees and volunteers who work with children and families should possess will also be published.
Developing a national parenting strategy that encourages agencies to work together to support parents is another step outlined by the taskforce to help children, families and communities to secure outcomes for themselves, another priority area for action.
The Vision and Priorities paper confirms that the Scottish Government will continue to support and develop the Bookbug reading programme and the Play Talk Read campaign, which aims to encourage parents and carers to play, talk and read more with their babies and young children.
To further support children and families, a Communities and Families fund will also be established to support local projects such as community playgroups, crèches, wrap-a-round care and parents’ groups.
A delivery group who will drive, support and monitor the programme, will feedback any p
rogress from the Change Programme to the Early Years Taskforce.
Aileen Campbell, Scotland’s minister of children and young people, said, ‘The Scottish Government wants Scotland to be the best place in the world for children to grow up. As co-chair of the task force – alongside the President of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities Pat Watters and Chief Medical Officer Sir Harry Burns – I am therefore delighted we have now agreed our vision and priorities for driving this work forward. ‘
