Supporting families in West Dunbartonshire
Focusing on communities impacted by poverty
Everything we do is focused on ensuring all children in their early years have the strong foundations they need for life and learning. We bring together local communities, families and partners to join up and strengthen the early years system, supporting children to thrive from pregnancy to five.
Supporting sustained improvements in early years outcomes
Thrive at Five is establishing its first programme in Scotland in West Dunbartonshire, working with the local authority and other partners to join up and strengthen the early years system.
Parents want the best for their children but many local families are struggling with the cost of living and pressures on family life. By the time children start primary school in West Dunbartonshire, over a quarter (27%) are reported as having at least one developmental concern (the Scottish annual average is 19 per cent).
We are now working with West Dunbartonshire Council, local families and the whole community, to co-design support for young children, ensuring young children they receive the help they need to thrive from pregnancy to five.
“I welcome this new initiative which will offer targeted support to our families in the first five years of parenthood, which is a critical time in their child’s development. I look forward to the programme progressing and seeing firsthand the difference this is going to make to families across West Dunbartonshire.”
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 by drawing together data, hearing directly from families, and engaging partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
In England, a key aim is to increase the number of children reaching a Good Level of Development by the end of Reception. In Scotland, we will measure impact using healthy child development data from the 27-30 month and 4-5 year reviews, alongside Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels in literacy and numeracy.
Co-design & implement: building partnerships
Once Discovery is complete and we have a clear picture of what life is like for children and families, we move into co-designing and implementing support. We build on existing community-based provision and bring additional capacity, working alongside parents, carers and all those supporting children in their earliest years. Co-design with parents, carers and local partners is central to how we work, helping to ensure our programme is responsive to local context, trusted by communities and owned by the system.
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 five years, because we know it takes time to thoroughly embed processes that are sustainable and make a meaningful difference.
Throughout these five 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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