Supporting families in Scotland
Focusing on communities impacted by poverty
Our mission is to help children in their early years develop strong foundations for life and learning. Focusing on communities impacted by poverty, our place-based model supports positive development from pregnancy to five.
Reducing inequalities in early years development
Too many children in Scotland are not able to thrive in early childhood. In 2023/24, 18% of 4-5 year olds in Scotland were reported as having developmental concerns. This proportion is more than twice as high for children living in the poorest areas (25%) compared to children living in the most affluent areas (12%).
As we work to establish a new programme in Scotland, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Eleanor Passmore as our new Scotland Director, on secondment from the Scottish Government where she was Deputy Director for Early Learning and Childcare from 2021 on.
We are hugely thankful for the engagement we have received from the Scottish Government, which has enabled us to get off to the strongest start as we begin building partnerships and laying the foundations for our work.
”I have been delighted to support Eleanor’s secondment to this exciting role and look forward to working with Thrive at Five in Scotland and other partners in the sector to achieve a positive impact for children in Scotland.”
Discovery: understanding the needs of the local area
Our first step towards reducing inequalities in the early years is Discovery. This stage is focused on understanding local needs, hearing directly from parents and carers, and the public, private and voluntary organisations that support them. Our discovery work will begin in earnest alongside a partner local authority in Scotland.
In England, a key aim of our work is to increase the number of children reaching a ‘good level of development’ by the end of their first year at school. Over the coming months we will engage widely with experts and partners in the sector to determine what the most suitable outcome measure for our work in Scotland should be.
Co-design & implement: building partnerships
Once the Discovery stage is complete and we have a comprehensive picture of what life is like for children aged five and their families in a local area, we’ll move onto co-designing and implementing the support they need. We always seek to build on and strengthen the community-based support that already exists in an area. We will also take learning and insights from our programmes in England and other initiatives, as we work alongside parents, carers and all those working to support children in their earliest years.
Improve & embed: Working together to reduce early inequalities
Thrive at Five has made a commitment to establish a programme in Scotland for a minimum of seven years, because we know it takes time to thoroughly embed processes that are sustainable and make a meaningful difference.
Throughout these seven years we will be evaluating and refining our approach, guided by the insights of local families. Evidence and data underpin our approach, and strong trusting relationships are the golden thread that run through all our work.
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Get in touch if you would like to support our work in Scotland.