Opinion: In my view - Getting it right early on

Part of my role as Commissioner is to ensure that Scotland remains attuned to the UNCRC and that the rights of children and young people are recognised within law and government procedures.

I believe there is particular importance in getting early years development right. We only get one shot at nurturing the very young and there is a growing body of evidence demonstrating how the quality of care can determine their social, cognitive and emotional development.

Scotland has in place a commendable framework for improvement of early years services. The success of this framework requires a long-term commitment and agreement from all political parties about the importance of early years provision. Ambitious changes are needed at national and local level to improve provision. This is a shared responsibility among health, education, social care and voluntary sector agencies.

As Commissioner I have a duty to promote best practice by service providers and I will encourage widespread application of successful approaches, particularly those that demonstrate early intervention is lessening the need for later, crisis intervention.

It is unacceptable that older children 'on the edge' are often blamed and/or punished for behaviour that is a consequence of early neglect and lack of support. How much better to be far-sighted enough to recognise that concentrated early support and nurture can pay dividends, not simply in meeting international commitments, but to the life prospects of individual children.