1. National Parenting Strategy Hilary Third Team Leader: Parenting Early Years: Children & Families Hilary.Third@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

2. ”….the development of a national parenting strategy that encourages agencies to work together to support new parents and allows them to develop their parenting skills. Parents will have access to a guaranteed level of support across the country.” SNP Manifesto 2011

3. Why? Supporting parents key to improving outcomes for children and young people Building resilience, capacity, confidence and skills of parents Value and importance of parenting Relevance to a wide range of outcomes Fundamental to early intervention/preventative spend Key role for services – what are the opportunities and challenges?

4. Progress so far Early days – help shape our thinking Principles/outlines rather than content/detail Very interactive – lots of engagement planned, especially with parents Early input of statutory and third sector partners crucial Must make a difference to parents/parenting and to C&YP in Scotland

5. Scope of the proposed strategy All parents (not just vulnerable families) All those in parental role (including the corporate parent) Parenting of children of all ages (not just new parents, not just early years) Building on GIRFEC principles/indicators Address issues which can interfere with parenting Specific focus on fathers

6. Considering the needs of young people Challenges of parenting teenagers, and less obvious support networks Role of parents in improving outcomes for young people Preparing C&YP to be the parents of the future Building on what we already know MRC Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy new systematic review

7. A phased approach Phase I (2011/12) Overarching ‘national strategy’ Phase II (2012/13) Aligning local outcomes with national strategy Phase III (2013 onwards) Outputs for parents (?)

8. Phase I - Working across SG/LG/NHS to: Say what we think about parenting Set out what’s already on offer Strengthen contributions to parenting Reflect what parents and practitioners think Set out plans for phases II and III

9. Phase II – aligning local delivery National strategy needs to complement good work already underway locally Importance of working together with delivery partners to agree a national approach and to align local activity National approach must have credibility and coherence from delivery perspective

10. Questions to consider: Who is it for? What are we trying to change? What is the problem we are trying to solve? How will we know when we have succeeded? How can we ensure it meets the needs of young people and their parents? Tone and language Parameters and expectations

11. It must make a difference to parents and parenting in Scotland. It must make a difference to children and young people growing up in Scotland