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Early years sector gathers 'to listen'

Early years practitioners and childcare workers from all over Scotland attending a conference in Glasgow heard about the importance of listening to children and young people. At Kids Clubs Direct's annual conference, 'Involving children and young people', delegates heard from Kathleen Marshall, Scotland's recently appointed commissioner for children and young people, who outlined her new role in a film made for the event by FACT, a youth drama group from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. She said she wanted to talk to groups of children around the country and come up with 'a menu of issues' that were important to them and would form her policy agenda for the next two years.
Early years practitioners and childcare workers from all over Scotland attending a conference in Glasgow heard about the importance of listening to children and young people.

At Kids Clubs Direct's annual conference, 'Involving children and young people', delegates heard from Kathleen Marshall, Scotland's recently appointed commissioner for children and young people, who outlined her new role in a film made for the event by FACT, a youth drama group from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. She said she wanted to talk to groups of children around the country and come up with 'a menu of issues' that were important to them and would form her policy agenda for the next two years.

Maureen Verrall, head of the children and families division at the Scottish Executive, spoke about integrated services. She said the Executive would shortly be publishing its Integrated Early Years Strategy with the aim of 'putting children at the centre of a coherent system'.

Cathy McCulloch, who set up the Children's Parliament, spoke about the Edinburgh-based Eco-city project, which gives children the chance to come up with environmentally-friendly designs. Children from primary schools in Edinburgh shared their experiences of the project.

The conference was chaired by Susan Hay, chair of Bright Horizons Family Solutions. Speakers included Paul Kane, chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, Karen Bain, children's worker from Down's Syndrome Scotland, child psychologist Dr Richard Woolfson and motivational speaker Watt Nicol.

Children were also given the chance to pose questions to the speakers. Children from Bishopbriggs Childcare Centre, near Glasgow (pictured), helped launch Kids Clubs Direct's annual awards, sponsored by ScottishPower Learning, which celebrate the achievements of Scottish children.

Categories in the competition, which attracted around 250 entries last year, include 'learning through involvement' and 'building community spirit'. Christine McGrory, managing director of Kids Clubs Direct, said, 'Children's Awards is a great opportunity for us to recognise the children of Scotland, in particular those who are helping to make a difference to the lives of others.'

For more information contact Kids Clubs Direct on 0845 045 4214 or e-mail Christine@kidsclubsdirect.com. Closing date for nominations is 15 October.