The month-long consultation on Early Years and Early Intervention, ajoint policy document from the Scottish government and the Convention ofScottish Local Authorities (COSLA), is in preparation for the launch ofan Early Years Framework in the autumn. The framework will cover frompre-conception through pregnancy, birth and up to the age of eight.
A key emphasis in the consultation is on shifting the focus from serviceprovision as the vehicle for delivering outcomes, to 'building thecapacity of individuals, families and communities to secure outcomes'.The 'personalisation of services' could mean developing packages ofsupport at individual or family level.
The document includes proposals to improve workforce skills in engagingwith families and considers the development of a pedagogue role, the useof key workers, family care workers and multi-disciplinary structures inearly years services.
Launching the policy statement at the Greengables Family Centre inEdinburgh last week, First Minister Alex Salmond said early interventionto break cycles of inequality, deprivation and ill-health will 'bring anend to the culture of crisis management and coping'.
The charity Children in Scotland welcomed the proposals and said it was'extremely important that we look at international models and practiceto show how these goals can be achieved'.
Chief executive Bronwen Cohen said the early years framework should takeaccount of recommendations in the Organisation for Economic Cooperationand Development's Starting Strong II report, 'to ensure services aredelivered in a genuinely holistic way for children'.
The Scottish government and COSLA published a 'concordat' last Novemberand agreed to the joint development of the early years framework.
FURTHER INFORMATION
The early years policy consultation document can be found atwww.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/14121428/0. Send responses to:EarlyYearsFramework@scotland.gsi.gov.