Early Years Scotland has said it is planning for the next half decade

A children’s charity is hanging the bunting high and baking a special anniversary cake this week to celebrate 50 years of pioneering work with Scotland’s young citizens.

After half a century of providing ground-breaking services for Scotland’s youngest children and their families, Early Years Scotland will celebrate its big birthday during its annual conference at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow on Saturday, 30 September.

The conference focuses on tackling the educational attainment gap at the earliest possible stage in a child’s life, and highlights Early Years Scotland’s innovative approach to early years learning.

As well as providing practical support services to almost 1200 member organisations and settings across the country, Early Years Scotland’s pioneering projects include working with prisoners and their children, Stay Play and Learn sessions for small children and their parents, and one-to-one work with families in their own homes.

The charity’s chief executive Jean Carwood-Edwards said: “Scotland’s commitment to providing its children with the best possible start in life is at the heart of all of the work we do, and as an organisation we always aim to match that commitment for our members and the families we work with.

“We’ve been supporting Scotland’s youngest children for 50 years now, and we’re looking forward to working with future generations for the next 50, and beyond.”

The charity has said that it will continue to embrace change over the coming years, and that its strategic approach to supporting children’s development is backed by a rich seam of research evidence about the critical importance of high quality early years provision.

Attendees at the conference, which will be chaired by broadcaster Kirsty Wark, can expect a stellar line up of child development speakers, but also a celebration of a half century’s commitment to Scotland’s wee people.