Acting on manifestos

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A new government for Scotland. What will it mean for parents and families? PAS has written to all MSPs asking them to put families at the heart of their plans. We've also sent them a copy of our own manifesto.

This is what the SNP says it will do for families:

Money for early years

  •   £45m investment in Scotland's "most vulnerable children and families"
  • Additional £50m change fund to support early intervention projects
  • This funding to be combined with existing £6.8m Early Years and Early Action Fund

Legislation and guidance

  • Review the Children (Scotland) Act 1995
  • New legislation obliging councils, health services and government to deliver early years services and education, and embedding Getting It Right for Every Child as a statutory duty
  • Ensure early years is reflected in every Single Outcome Agreement
  • New national parenting strategy

Actions

  • Government taskforce to ensure the public sector prioritises early years
  • Develop children and families centres across Scotland to offer services including childcare, activities and family support
  • Extend the Family Nurse Partnership to Tayside and Glasgow and subsequent roll-out across Scotland
  • Increase parenting skills by building on Play, Talk, Read
  • Guaranteed level of support to all parents
  • Increase the supply and reduce the cost of childcare
  • Those from the most deprived backgrounds targeted for pre-school and nursery education
  • National summit with the business community to promote and explore more opportunities for flexible working

Disability

  •  Implement new autism strategy to help improve diagnosis and support for people with autism and their families. New resources of £10m over four years to support this work
  • Develop new child protection guidance for children with disabilities and a national risk assessment toolkit for professionals working in child protection
  • Provide British Sign Language for parents of new-born deaf children

Carers

  • Annual 'Carers Parliament' to allow carers to raise issues with MSPs
  • Funding for an extra 10,000 weeks' respite provision per year
  • Develop carers and young carers strategy and continue with £5m annual investment for carer information strategies within NHS
  • Create a new 'caring for carers' employers' kitemark