Irish Wedding News
20/02/2014
The Scottish Government has passed reforms to provide greater support for children and families.
The Children and Young People Bill will deliver more funded, flexible early learning and childcare of at least 600 hours a year for three- and four-year-olds, as well as for the most vulnerable two-year-olds.
Coming into force from August 2014, the Government has said the Bill will deliver a saving of around £700 per child per family per year.
Other provisions in the Bill will include:
• From April 2015, teenagers in residential, foster or kinship care who turn 16 gaining new rights to remain 'looked-after' up to the age of 21, as well as extended entitlement to aftercare up to their 26th birthday.
• New duties placed on Ministers and the wider public sector to promote children's rights, as well increased powers given to Scotland's Children's Commissioner.
• Kinship carers gaining enhanced legal entitlements to assistance.
• Scotland's National Adoption Register placed in statute, improving prospects for finding homes for vulnerable young children.
• Counselling and other support provided for vulnerable children and their families.
• Improved provision of advice and help when needed for children and families from early years to adulthood, including providing a 'named person' for each child – usually their health visitor or head/senior teacher – available as a single point of contact.
• Every primary 1 to 3 child gaining the option of a free school lunch from next January.
• Strengthened legislation on school closures, including new requirements and improved transparency for closure proposals, particularly in rural communities.
Commenting on the announcement, Children's Minister Aileen Campbell said: "As I have always said, this Bill is a starting point for a significant expansion of high quality, flexible early learning and childcare.
"It sets the foundations for our longer-term aim to transform childcare provision using the full powers and resources of independence – enabling us to support more parents wanting to move into work by re-investing higher revenues from improved economic activity back into expanded childcare provision.
"Our approach is a phased, sustainable one, where we are focusing first on those families who are most in need and who will benefit most from an expansion of funded hours. Not only will this improve the life chances of children, it will also provide opportunities for parents and families to benefit from support into training or sustainable employment."
Ms Campbell added: "The legislation is the culmination of extensive consultation and discussion with a wide variety of individuals and groups all with the best interests of Scotland's children at heart.
"The measures will support children and families right across the country and will help secure a widely-held ambition for Scotland to be the best place in the world for children to grow up."
(JP/IT)
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Scottish Government Pass Children's Bill
The Scottish Government has passed reforms to provide greater support for children and families.
The Children and Young People Bill will deliver more funded, flexible early learning and childcare of at least 600 hours a year for three- and four-year-olds, as well as for the most vulnerable two-year-olds.
Coming into force from August 2014, the Government has said the Bill will deliver a saving of around £700 per child per family per year.
Other provisions in the Bill will include:
• From April 2015, teenagers in residential, foster or kinship care who turn 16 gaining new rights to remain 'looked-after' up to the age of 21, as well as extended entitlement to aftercare up to their 26th birthday.
• New duties placed on Ministers and the wider public sector to promote children's rights, as well increased powers given to Scotland's Children's Commissioner.
• Kinship carers gaining enhanced legal entitlements to assistance.
• Scotland's National Adoption Register placed in statute, improving prospects for finding homes for vulnerable young children.
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• Counselling and other support provided for vulnerable children and their families.
• Improved provision of advice and help when needed for children and families from early years to adulthood, including providing a 'named person' for each child – usually their health visitor or head/senior teacher – available as a single point of contact.
• Every primary 1 to 3 child gaining the option of a free school lunch from next January.
• Strengthened legislation on school closures, including new requirements and improved transparency for closure proposals, particularly in rural communities.
Commenting on the announcement, Children's Minister Aileen Campbell said: "As I have always said, this Bill is a starting point for a significant expansion of high quality, flexible early learning and childcare.
"It sets the foundations for our longer-term aim to transform childcare provision using the full powers and resources of independence – enabling us to support more parents wanting to move into work by re-investing higher revenues from improved economic activity back into expanded childcare provision.
"Our approach is a phased, sustainable one, where we are focusing first on those families who are most in need and who will benefit most from an expansion of funded hours. Not only will this improve the life chances of children, it will also provide opportunities for parents and families to benefit from support into training or sustainable employment."
Ms Campbell added: "The legislation is the culmination of extensive consultation and discussion with a wide variety of individuals and groups all with the best interests of Scotland's children at heart.
"The measures will support children and families right across the country and will help secure a widely-held ambition for Scotland to be the best place in the world for children to grow up."
(JP/IT)
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