Kirsty, the Holyrood Baby, is a fictional child, born into one of Scotland’s most deprived communities on the day the current crop of MSPs took their seats in 2016. She is a conduit through which Holyrood magazine can examine the parliament's progress in tackling poverty, early intervention, and children's rights – as well as the implementation gap between policy ambition and the reality for children growing up in poverty in Scotland.
Since Kirsty's third birthday, it was decided to postpone the implementation of parts of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, although the Scottish Government has remained committed to GIRFEC.
Join us on 6th October as we examine what recent and upcoming policy changes and the wider implications of the COVID-19 pandemic mean for the support and services you provide to children in Scotland.
09:55 Welcome and Introduction from the Chair
Claire Telfer, Head of Scotland, Save the Children (Chair)
Session 1: Policy Landscape Since Kirsty's 3rd Birthday
- Practical guidance to support and sustain the GIRFEC approach under existing legislation
- Consequences of postponement of flagship policies:- the Scottish Child Payment and doubling of funded early years provision
10:05 Keynote Address: Shona Robison MSP, Former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport & Chair, Social Justice and Fairness Commission
10:25 Aileen Nicol, Head of Improving Permanence, Centre of Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection (CELCIS)
Questions and Discussion
Session 2: The Reality for Children Living in Poverty
- Poor take-up and challenges around signposting services
- Embedding a rights-based approach in service delivery
- Tackling the poverty-related attainment gap
- Financial barriers to learning
- Impact of poverty on early years
- Impact of COVID-19 on poverty and the life chances of children
11:05 Sara Spencer, Cost of the School Day Project Manager, Child Poverty Action Group
11:25 Kerry McKenzie, Organisational Lead for Child Poverty, Public Health Scotland
Dr Deborah Wason, Public Health Intelligence Principal, Public Health Scotland
Questions & Discussion
12:00 Break
Session 3: The Next 5 Years: Getting It Right For Kirsty
As we look forward to the forthcoming Scottish Parliament election in May 2021:
- Taking a whole system approach to transformational change in early years
- Co-designed approach that puts children's voices at the centre
- Changing the already 'poor outlook' for Kirsty pre-pandemic
12:20 Panel Discussion
- Jamie Greene MSP, Scottish Conservatives Education Spokesman & Member, Education & Skills Committee
- Jacquie Pepper, Depute Director, Education & Children's Service; Chief Social Worker, Perth & Kinross Council and co-Chair, Children and Families Standing Committee, Social Work Scotland
- Sue Palmer, Independent Writer and Education Consultant, and Chair, Upstart Scotland
- Margo Mackay, Associate, Talking Mats
13:00 Closing Remarks from Chair
Claire Telfer, Head of Scotland, Save the Children
13:10 Close of the event
Book now or email or call Adam on 0131 285 1692
If you have an inspiring case study or a project that you think is relevant, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We are always on the lookout for new speakers.