1. Delivering the Early Years Framework Our Scottish Borders Journey

2. It’s been a long journey… The Integrated Strategy for the Early Years (Scottish Executive 2003) The Integrated Strategy for the Early Years (Scottish Executive 2003) “ This strategy seeks to bring together the range of services for young children and their outcomes for the next generation. This requires better joined up working, a reduction in artificial barriers, and an integrated approach to care and support for young children and their families.”

3. Where were we in 2003/4? No evidence of a shared vision No evidence of a shared vision Effective support for young children was undermined by vertically separated agencies Effective support for young children was undermined by vertically separated agencies Each agency was driven by structural, statutory, financial and accountability arrangements Each agency was driven by structural, statutory, financial and accountability arrangements

4. Key developments since 2003 Our partnerships (Childcare Partnership, Children’s Planning Partnership ) have grown and started to produce results – Our partnerships (Childcare Partnership, Children’s Planning Partnership ) have grown and started to produce results – We have an integrated children’s plan We have an integrated children’s plan We have developed a locality approach to service planning and delivery We have developed a locality approach to service planning and delivery We have transformed our core business within Scottish Borders Council created our Integrated Children’s Service We have transformed our core business within Scottish Borders Council created our Integrated Children’s Service We have developed and introduced our Integrated Assessment Framework We have developed and introduced our Integrated Assessment Framework

5. And more recently…. We have established a new partnership strategic early years group We have established a new partnership strategic early years group As a council we have increased investment in early years through enhanced nursery provision – although we have reduced the Childcare Partnership budget at the same time! As a council we have increased investment in early years through enhanced nursery provision – although we have reduced the Childcare Partnership budget at the same time!

6. Despite this…….. Some say that we have never really grasped the challenges of investing in the early years Some say that we have never really grasped the challenges of investing in the early years The national Framework coupled with the aspirations around GIRFEC, and the progress we have made so far, give us the opportunity here in Borders to really make a difference The national Framework coupled with the aspirations around GIRFEC, and the progress we have made so far, give us the opportunity here in Borders to really make a difference

7. The challenges that still face us.. Delivering on the Early Years Framework is more than enhancing current early years services. Delivering on the Early Years Framework is more than enhancing current early years services. How can we ensure early years is a community planning partnership priority How can we ensure early years is a community planning partnership priority We need to link with issues such as employability, tackling poverty, affordable housing and the range of other priorities which will help “break the cycle” We need to link with issues such as employability, tackling poverty, affordable housing and the range of other priorities which will help “break the cycle”