Improving life opportunities for children and young people is the top priority for Renfrewshire’s new Education Convener, Councillor Emma Rodden.
Visiting Glenburn Early Learning and Childcare Centre (ELCC), Councillor Rodden saw first-hand how putting health and well-being at the heart of learning and teaching ensures youngsters get the best start in life and helps them to develop resilience that supports them throughout their life.
The nursery has been praised recently in the Scottish Education Awards, achieving the Making A Difference award for their comprehensive approach to health and wellbeing, which includes supporting families and staff as well as children.
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They have also become the first nursery in Renfrewshire to gain a ruby level by Renfrewshire Council’s education psychology team for their work to nurture and support children’s wellbeing.
During her visit, Councillor Rodden said the integrated approach taken by Glenburn ELCC was supporting everyone to thrive. She explained: “It’s been a difficult few years for everyone. We know that many young children have not had the same opportunities for socialisation like their older peers had.
“On top of that, their parents have also had limited opportunities for meeting up with friends and family as well as financial worry, all of which has an impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Staff have also had a challenging time supporting themselves and their own families as well as the children they look after.”
The council is also working to embed the recommendations of The Promise, which is a national commitment to care-experienced children, young people, and adults to ensure that no child is disadvantaged because they grew up in the care system.
It means that over the next ten years, Renfrewshire will embed the systematic changes detailed in The Promise to better support all children and young people living in the area.
Councillor Rodden added: “We want to make sure that everyone has the same opportunities in life. Through The Promise, we are working to make sure care-experienced young people and adults can thrive in the same way as everyone else.
“On top of ensuring they have the right care and love in their lives while they are growing up, it also means providing additional support that will help them reach their potential at school and beyond.”
Anyone who is worried about their finances can get in touch with the council’s Advice Works team by emailing adviceworks@renfrewshire.gov.uk or Renfrewshire Citizen’s Advice Bureau by calling 0141 889 2121.
For help with jobs, email invest@renfrewshire.gov.uk to speak to the council’s Invest team.
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