Improving the lives of Scotland’s children
As Minister for Children and Early Years, it’s my job to do the best I can – in partnership with local authorities and others – to improve the lives and life chances of Scotland’s children.
Unfortunately, some children and young people – through no fault of their own – face real challenges during their early years in life, no more so than those in care.
We need to help these children overcome the many barriers which their life circumstances have put in their way and help them enjoy the same opportunities as others. To achieve this all ‘corporate parents’ across Scotland – that means everyone in national and local government and agencies responsible for their care – must work together to raise their attainment, their wellbeing and, overall, ensure that they get the support they need when and where they need it.
I visited Dumfries last week to learn about two projects underway in the region to support looked after young people and careleavers – the Go Further project, a joint pilot scheme between Dumfries and Galloway College, Dumfries and Galloway Council and Skills Development Scotland and the Key to Work employability project, which give these young people educational work experience and training opportunities.
Today, I will be making a further announcement about how can improve training for corporate parents so they can further strengthen the support they give to looked after young people.
I look forward to hearing your views through Engage for Education, both from young people and those who support them, about how we can give young people in care the best possible chance in life to succeed.
8 comments
This is a very good idea. Are you going to aim it at a particular age group?
It’s true that some children are at a disadvantage compared to other children. This usually follows them all through their life and then the same disadvantages go on to the next generation, and then the next. I think it’s a good idea to try and break the cycle, and give everybody the same chances in life.
The educational difficulties young people in care experience are often deeply entrenched by the time they are received into care. As well as providing additional support for looked after and accomodated children, we need to get in earlier to provide support for children from vulnerable families, even before birth. In the current financial climate, we need to ensure that services that have been highly effective in this area (e.g. bookstart and family learning) are protected.
Good afternoon Adam
when is this Government going to fulfill it’s promise to increase the number of teachers for the under fives?
Annie were you at the Conference in Edinburgh last week when DCS John Carnochan spoke and made very similar comments to yours. John is very clear that his experiences as head of Strathclydes violence reduction uni have led him to believe that a switch of resources to the early years is necessary as it was then that children learned the skills which employers say they need and which are least nurtured in chaotic families – problem solving, organising, working with others, team working, learning to negotiate and acquiring the ability to compromise.
He also made a plea for nursery teachers to be valued more highly than they are. Statistics from a 2005 Social Market Foundation Report revealed that spending per student was around £1,500 for the under fives in 2002 -03, compared with more than £5,000in higher education. A man of great sense who can see the true value of high quality nursery education with teachers as a part of the professional team.
Caitlin, thanks for the vote of support to our training programme for corporate parents. A good corporate parent has not only a responsibility but also a real opportunity to improve the futures of looked after children and young people This training will look to improve this responsibility for all those who have looked after children and young people in their care regardless of their age group.
Adam Ingram
Minister for Children & the Early Years
Hi Adam
was wondering when you might answer MY earlier question?
April:
Thank you for your comment.
We will normally try to answer most questions, however, Engage is a community site and in order to address as many issues as possible, Ministers may not give a personal reply to every query – especially if an answer has previously been provided.
In this case, on 23rd June Mr Russell replied to a very similar question that you had asked. The answer can be viewed here.
Kind Regards
Maria Campbell, Engage Community Manager