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3 Children in Infancy (birth - 5 year olds)
3.1 Infants, toddlers and very young children are totally dependent on their parents, or the adults who care for them, for nourishment, physical care and to meet their emotional and social needs. If any of these key elements of care is not available for a child, services need to be involved either to help the parent or carer to provide the necessary support or to intervene to protect the young child.
There is growing evidence that there is a relatively narrow window of opportunity for intervention in a child's early years, beyond which the lack of adequate nurture is likely to have a long-term damaging effect, with children going on to live chaotic lives themselves. Research shows that 0-3 years is the maximum timescale in situations of no nurture, after which there is irreparable damage.
Children may be "in need of care and attention" under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 if their health or development is affected by parental substance misuse. The primary duty placed on local authorities under Section 22 of the Act is to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need and, only in so far as consistent with that primary duty, are authorities required to promote the upbringing of such children by their families. "Getting our Priorities Right" sets out guidance to help all agencies address the needs of these children. In meeting the needs of the child, action by the local authority may involve removing the child from the family or offering respite foster care and/or a wider range of supports to the family itself.
There is a need for co-ordinated risk assessment and effective communications amongst all relevant agencies working across both statutory and voluntary sector agencies.
Key issues in relation to birth - 5 year olds Best practice means: - providing support and encouragement to parents who have sought help for their substance misuse during pregnancy so that they continue with their treatment after the birth of their child;
- identifying the developmental needs of young children who, even at this early age, are taking responsibility for caring for younger siblings or indeed parents;
- supporting the developmental needs of children through participation in activities with other children and a range of adults in a supportive and caring environment;
- ensuring that parents take up their entitlement to a free part-time pre-school place for their child from the term after their third birthday; and
- recognising that pre-school children may need different levels of support to be ready and able to cope with school.
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3.2 Key Action Points
The Executive will undertake the following action to promote best practice in relation to children in infancy. We will:
- work with local agencies to make sure that the needs of vulnerable infants are identified and responded to as early as possible, so that they can make the best possible start at school - ongoing;
- work with local agencies to develop and implement protocols that will alert health visitors and social workers to the needs of mother and child as well as those of wider family members who may be supporting them - ongoing;
- work with local agencies to make sure that, where children's needs are best met by removing them from their birth families, the relevant decisions are made appropriately and permanent placements found quickly - ongoing;
- ensure that local authorities are making appropriate arrangements to identify children who may have additional support needs, as required under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 - ongoing;
- continue to fund activity to support substance misusing parents at local level through Sure Start Scotland - ongoing; and
- through Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education ( HMIE) monitor and evaluate the impact of the Additional Support for Learning Act, including its application to pre-school facilities, and report to Ministers - September 2007.
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