So What Happens Next?.... Is it Fair?

Early Years Scotland With

CELCIS Education Forum

Jean Carwood-EdwardsChief Executive, Early Years Scotland

Thursday 9 November 2017St Mungo’s Museum, Castle Street, Glasgow

At Early Years Scotland, we all care very much,

and believe very strongly that Amy and

Lee both deserve to have a positive, fair and

equal start in life.

That is why we do what we do

Why?

Meet Lee

September 2014

• Lee is 3 years old and generally happy• Lives with mum + dad in comfortable home• Has sister and brother who adore him• Spends lots of time playing outdoors and

indoors with family/other children • Shares stories + chat every day with family• Enjoys family holidays 2/3 times per year• Loves learning and playing and chatting• Language Development is advanced• Has a regular routine with healthy food and a

good sleep pattern

Meet Amy

September 2014

• Amy is 3 years old and often feels anxious• Lives with mum and sister in a high rise flat• Amy’s sister who has special needs requires lots of care• Mum experienced domestic abuse, has used drugs and

alcohol to ‘escape’• Dad serving prison sentence so not currently at home• Amy loves playing, usually on her own• Rarely sees others as there’s no family nearby• Has never been on holiday• Doesn’t hear stories or engage in chat much• Language and vocabulary development is delayed• Favourite food is fast food• Family has erratic routine, often going to bed after

midnight and sleeping late Amy is on the edge of care……

Different Brains at 3 years……….We know that early experiences literally shape the brain

We can do things to change things!

• EWessssssssssssWe

Dr Bruce Perry M.D., Ph.D.Senior Fellow of The Child Trauma Academy

September 2014

In order to tackle this multi-layeredchallenge, we believe that we have to remain flexible and adaptable.

• Children don’t have any choice about the circumstances into which they are born, so why should they have to pay the penalty for something which is our (society’s) doing?

We use a range of approaches to support young children that recognise: • the importance of prevention and early intervention, and• the child as part of a family and not as an isolated

individual

How?

September 2014

1. Working Directly with Children and their Parents/Carers

2. Supporting Providers of ELC and the wider ELC Community

3. Advocacy and Advisory Services

4. Professional Learning for the Workforce

What?

September 2014

EYS Membership services assist a range of staff across the country to provide high quality ELC in all types of

settings

We offer membership for ELC settings, individual students, individual practitioners,

colleges, universities

What?2. Supporting Providers of ELC and the wider ELC Community

September 2014

Membership Benefits include:• Helpline• Curriculum, inspection and business support • Professional learning opportunities • Regular practitioner and parent magazines • E-bulletins and regular updates• Members’ area on our website• Specialist insurance and legal advice• Policy templates ……………..and much more!

What?2. Supporting Providers of ELC and the wider ELC Community

September 2014

In addition to membership, we also:

• Support ELC staff through our locally based Development and Support Officers

• Support parents to establish, run and improve Parent and Toddler Groups in local communities

What?2. Supporting Providers of ELC and the wider ELC Community

:

September 2014

We are committed to ensuring that we remain fully engaged with all matters relating to young children in Scotland.

As a membership and service-delivery organisation, we have a responsibility to ensure that our children and members’ voices are

represented fully.

We inform, influence support and challenge early years legislation, policy and practice to ensure

Scotland’s children are heard, and that they have the best start possible in life.

What?3. Advocacy and Advisory services relating to legislation/policy/practice

September 2014

We deliver a range of learning opportunities for providers of ELC, colleges, universities, local authorities and many more partners.

As the size of the workforce is set to almost double by 2020, we have opened the new

Early Years Scotland Professional Learning Academystaffed by our expert dedicated professional learning team who

design, develop and deliver affordable, accessible, relevant high quality learning opportunities

across the country.

What?4. Professional learning for the workforce

September 2014

1. Working Directly with Children and their Parents/Carers

2. Supporting Providers of ELC and the wider ELC Community

3. Advocacy and Advisory Services

4. Professional Learning for the Workforce

What?

September 2014

Early Years Scotland is a ‘specialist’ organisation. Our staff are all fully qualified early years practitioners. We work with children and their

parents/carers together to help all children to have the best start and to help close the disadvantage gap.

All services are: Two-generational, play-based and aim to strengthen and improve confidence,

attachment, interactions, shared learning, and attainment

What?Working with Children and their Parents/Carers

September 2014

EYS own brand of Stay Play and Learn Services Includes:

• Baby Stay Play and Learn• 0-5 Stay Play and Learn• P1 Stay Play and Learn• 2 Stay Play and Learn• Prison Stay Play and Learn• Individual Stay Play and Learn

What?1. Working with Children and their Parents

Stay Play and LearnAims

The aim of the Stay Play and Learn service is to work with families to encourage them to play and learn together to improve transitions, attachments, strengthen bonds and children’s overall learning and development.

Stay Play and Learn

Session Structure

• Welcome and sign in

• Free and exploration play

• Art/craft activity or messy play

• Healthy fresh fruit snack

• Shared play game

• Book bug singing/rhyme or story telling session

Stay Play and LearnWorking to Close the Attainment Gap

• Reduce the inequality gap enabling children to start school with better prospects

• Establish meaningful parental engagement from the start

• Enrich and improve early home learning environments

• Improve children’s confidence, literacy and communication

• Ensure excellent transitions for children

• Support Family Learning

• Support active learning, problem solving and growing independence

• Enhance children’s concentration, curiosity and social interaction

• Enhance and improves parent/carers’ confidence.

• Heighten parental interest and knowledge of their child’s

learning and development.

Stay Play and LearnStrategies

• Provide early intervention that involves child and parents/carers playing, learning

and developing together

• Offer dedicated family support in a familiar setting

• Improve experiences and opportunities for children and families

• Support parents to improve children’s health, wellbeing learning and development

• Reduce the risk of increased vulnerability

Stay Play and LearnOffers

• Opportunity for children and parents/carers to bond, play and learn together

• Regular routine which includes healthy snack, messy play experience, story and ideas to do at home

• Signposting for families to other relevant local services (Third Sector partnerships)

• Opportunities for parents/carers and children to make local social contacts

• Partnership working with Early Years Scotland

• Access to Early Years Scotland parent and practitioner magazines and membership options.

Stay Play and LearnServices for Children

• Children learning new skills through shared play experiences with their parents/ carers

• Children enjoying quality time with their parents/carers

• Children successfully extending and enhancing their learning

• Family fun with creative, messy play, singing, games and much more

• Children socialising with other children and making friends

• Supporting effective transitions into Primary School

Stay Play and LearnService for Parents/Carers

• Safe, friendly, relaxed settings in small groups, same time each week

• Parents developing their understanding of the importance of play in their children’s development

• Parents exploring ideas about how children develop and shared play and learning experiences that can be used at home

• Meeting other parents in the community and making friendships with P1 children and families

• Finding out information on other local services in the local area e.g. Parent and Toddler groups, nurseries, libraries, groups/classes

• Health promoting activities to help parents develop children's health and wellbeing at home.

Stay Play and LearnHow we evaluate our service?

Early Years Scotland evaluates the Stay Play and Learn service through:

observations

case studies

questionnaires

our own EYS evaluation framework

Stay Play and LearnWhat Parents Said…

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

YES NO N/A

Has your knowledge increased about why it is important to play with and talk to your child?

Stay Play and Learn What Parents Said….

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

YES NO N/A

Do you do new activities at home with your child that you didn’t do before?

Stay Play and Learn What Parents Said…..

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

YES NO N/A

Has your child's learning and development improved (eg social skills, confidence, curiosity, problem-solving)?

Stay Play and Learn What Parents Said…..

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

YES NO N/A

Has your child's language skills improved?

Stay Play and LearnWhat Head Teachers Say….

I would like to say how valuable the stay, play and learn service is, both to help our parents learn about what their child needs to grow and progress, and also in the high quality experiences that are delivered by the team. The parents all enjoy and value the sessions in developing good home nursery links with play-based interventions.

I cannot praise this work and the value for parents highly enough.

Sandra Meighan HT Keppoch NS

Stay Play and LearnQuotes from children

My best thing is

the ladies and

the snack

I love Stay and Play,

my favourite thing is

the toys and getting

to play with friends.

d Playing is

good

Stay Play and Learn Quotes from parents/carers

She doesn't

stop talking

about it. She

really looks

forward to it.

P1 Dad

Now I have a social circle. I am playing a more active role in the school

It is free, the staff are AMAZING

September 2014

EYS also provides the following services:

• Baby Massage in prisons and community settings

• EYS Family Visitor Centre in HMP Low Moss

• Facilitated Parent and Toddler Groups

What?1. Working with Children and their Parents

Stay Play and Learn……..

One story of a family where the children are currently being looked after away from home and how Stay Play and Learn is part of the support……..

Little Lyla, 4 days oldBorn 18 April 2017(9lbs 14 oz)

Thank you!