In September 1998, the Scottish Executive announced the allocation of funding to local authorities for an expansion of support to families with very young children.

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Background:  A cross Departmental Review of Provision for Young Children was carried out in 1997/1998. The main remit of this review was to see if resources devoted to services for very young children could be better spent, in particular to see whether a more integrated approach to service provision at the family and community level could tackle (more effectively) the multiple causes of social exclusion affecting young children.

A number of key issues were identified:

• Effective support for young children is undermined by the current system of service provision, which is driven by vertically separated agencies - each of which deals with a fragment of children's lives - rather than by the needs of children as whole individuals. Fragmentation and lack of co-ordination appears particularly severe for those aged 0 - 3 years, when children are most vulnerable but can benefit most from support.

• There is a need for changes in existing arrangements, to provide a pattern of services for young children which are free of stigma, but enable effort to be targeted on those children at most risk of becoming socially excluded in later life. Evidence shows that the first year of a child's life is crucial in terms of cognitive development and emotional adjustment; the quality of bonding and attachment in the first year heavily determines subsequent achievement.

• In order to benefit those most at risk, a community based approach to children's services may be needed, providing a universal and open access "gateway" of core services for young children and their families (e.g. childcare, early education and play, health services and family support), beyond which services based on evidence of what works can be targeted on those who need them most.

Effective early interventions were identified:

• Two generation - involve parents as well as children

• Non-stigmatising - avoid labelling "problem families"

• Multifaceted - target a number of factors, not just e.g. education, health or 'parenting'

• Persistent - last long enough to make a real difference

• Community based - built on consultation and involvement of parents

• Culturally appropriate and sensitive to the needs of children and parents

Core services were identified as:

• Childcare/early education, play, health and family support accessible through a single gateway and effective outreach service to ensure that those most in need get access to appropriate services

Aims, Goals and Principals:

Aims:  The aim of Sure Start is to promote social inclusion through a positive start in young children's lives, recognising that ........

• the child develops within the family, with the well being and broad skills of the parents fundamental to a child's progress

• community based, family focused resources, including high quality childcare and direct support to the parents, will strengthen parent's ability to maximise their children's potential

• independent research indicates that the most effective forms of intervention are those initiated in early infancy and sustained thereafter

Goals: 

• Improving children's emotional and social development

• Improving children's health

• Improving children's ability to learn

• Strengthening families and communities

Principals: 

• Diverse family patterns should be acknowledged and respected

• Cultural diversity should be acknowledged and respected

• Parents' existing skills, experience and knowledge should be built on, rather than starting from failings and deficits

• Projects should be relevant to the needs of parents and carers, male and female, and should be planned in co-operation with them

• The results and outcomes of programmes should be constantly monitored and recorded and parents should be encouraged to participate in this process
   

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