Delivering the Early Delivering the Early Years FrameworkYears FrameworkOur Scottish Borders JourneyOur Scottish Borders Journey

It’s been a long journey…It’s been a long journey… The Integrated Strategy for the Early The Integrated Strategy for the Early

Years (Scottish Executive 2003)Years (Scottish Executive 2003)“ “ This strategy seeks to bring together the This strategy seeks to bring together the

range of services for young children and range of services for young children and their outcomes for the next generation. their outcomes for the next generation. This requires better joined up working, a This requires better joined up working, a reduction in artificial barriers, and an reduction in artificial barriers, and an integrated approach to care and support integrated approach to care and support for young children and their families.”for young children and their families.”

Where were we in 2003/4?Where were we in 2003/4? No evidence of a shared visionNo evidence of a shared vision Effective support for young children Effective support for young children

was undermined by vertically was undermined by vertically separated agenciesseparated agencies

Each agency was driven by Each agency was driven by structural, statutory, financial and structural, statutory, financial and accountability arrangementsaccountability arrangements

Key developments since Key developments since 20032003

Our partnerships Our partnerships (Childcare Partnership, (Childcare Partnership, Children’s Planning Partnership )Children’s Planning Partnership ) have grown and have grown and started to produce results – started to produce results –

We have an integrated children’s planWe have an integrated children’s plan We have developed a locality approach to service We have developed a locality approach to service

planning and deliveryplanning and delivery We have transformed our core business within We have transformed our core business within

Scottish Borders Council created our Integrated Scottish Borders Council created our Integrated Children’s ServiceChildren’s Service

We have developed and introduced our We have developed and introduced our Integrated Assessment FrameworkIntegrated Assessment Framework

And more recently….And more recently…. We have established a new We have established a new

partnership strategic early years partnership strategic early years groupgroup

As a council we have increased As a council we have increased investment in early years through investment in early years through enhanced nursery provision – enhanced nursery provision – although we have reduced the although we have reduced the Childcare Partnership budget at the Childcare Partnership budget at the same time!same time!

Despite this……..Despite this…….. Some say that we have never really Some say that we have never really

grasped the challenges of investing grasped the challenges of investing in the early yearsin the early years

The national Framework coupled with The national Framework coupled with the aspirations around GIRFEC, and the aspirations around GIRFEC, and the progress we have made so far, the progress we have made so far, give us the opportunity here in give us the opportunity here in Borders to really make a differenceBorders to really make a difference

The challenges that still face The challenges that still face us..us..

Delivering on the Early Years Framework is Delivering on the Early Years Framework is more than enhancing current early years more than enhancing current early years services. services.

How can we ensure early years is a How can we ensure early years is a community planning partnership priority community planning partnership priority

We need to link with issues such as We need to link with issues such as employability, tackling poverty, affordable employability, tackling poverty, affordable housing and the range of other priorities housing and the range of other priorities which will help “break the cycle”which will help “break the cycle”