Children’s Minister, Adam Ingram, visited Ferryfield Early Education and Childcare Centre in Alexandria yesterday to see the work undertaken by Dunbartonshire Young Families Support Service, to help young parents be  the best parents they can and give their children a strong start in life. 

Positive parenting can make a significant difference to children’s health, well being and development, as well as their future life chances and is a key aspect of the Scottish Government’s Early Years Framework. This project, run by West Dunbartonshire Council, supports that work by providing multi-agency help to vulnerable young families with children under five. 

In addition to promoting parenting, the project also offers a range of other help including, advice on budgeting/financial management, support to access other community-based resources, help with practical housekeeping issues and help with parental mental and physical health problems. 

Adam Ingram said: 

“The early years are crucial to a child’s health, wellbeing, development and future life opportunities. By providing the right support in those crucial early years, we can help reduce the risk of poor health, poor educational outcomes and poor employment opportunities later in life and help lay the foundations for a bright, better future.” 

“I welcome the efforts of everyone involved – staff and parents alike – in helping to ensure that this project makes a real difference to the lives of local children and their families.”

Here Jane Forey, Head of the Centre shares her experience of the importance of listening to parents:

I have been Head of Centre at Ferryfield Early Education and Childcare Centre in Alexandria West Dumbarton for nine years.

I previously worked for NCH in a family project in Glasgow, I believe that the culture of NCH greatly influenced my personal values I felt that for the first time I truly learned and experienced equality and diversity and the ethos of empowerment for, parents and children.  I firmly believe that to make a difference we must ensure that we listen to parents, and that support is tailored to meet the individual needs of the family

I am privileged to be in a profession that can make a difference to children’s lives, and I am committed to making a positive impact on the lives of the children and families who attend our centre. I lead and manage a very committed staff team, who share my vision for our children and families.

Our centre is fully committed to working with the whole family, with the common goal of trying to do the best for each child to reach their potential and excel in the four capacities of a Curriculum for Excellence to be Successful Learners, Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens and Effective Contributors.