Opinion: In my view - An early years success
Jan Leightley, strategic director of children's services, Action for Children
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Action for Children's recent analysis of cross-party politics relating to children and young people had some astounding results.
We found that over the past 21 years there have been more than 400 different initiatives, strategies, funding streams, legislative acts and structural changes to services affecting children and young people.
However, the good news is that early years provision has escaped much of this political churn due to a major investment by Government. This investment has been more than financial. A sustained approach has enabled tailored services to flourish and meet the needs of children, families and communities.
Sure Start Children's Centres are a case in point. Their work has become so integral to the communities in which they operate, that the push to legislate for them to be placed on a statutory basis is a natural and welcome progression.
Action for Children has also looked at how children's centres reach vulnerable families while at the same time including families with 'straightforward needs'. We found that by using skilled facilitation and firm ground rules, group work benefits all involved.
Parents have told us that seeking help in itself can conjure up feelings of inadequacy and failure. But we have found that integrating families breaks down this stigma by helping people understand that parenting problems cross socio-economic boundaries.
So what now for early years services?
Now, more than ever, families need help from sympathetic policies and comprehensive support. That requires a long-term commitment from Government to deliver an inclusive network of services for all parents which offer them support in their children's most formative early years - the years in which we know that the parenting and life opportunities children experience impact on the future course of their lives.
This is the only way we can ensure children have the best possible start in life to grow into happy, responsible adults.
Parents want support. There is ever increasing financial pressure on parents leading to raised stress, inevitably affecting family relationships.
And the benefits are tangible, for both parents and their children. Parents have developed positive parenting skills and improved home learning environments after using services. Whilst their children showed better social development, greater independence and more positive behaviour.
