Reconceptualising the inter-relationship between social policy and practice: Scottish parents' perspectives

In Scotland, The Early Years Framework (Scottish Government 2008a, 2008b) provides a social policy framework for the development of policy and practice to ensure optimum opportunities for children to maximise their potential. The focus and value placed on the early years, both from individual and societal perspectives, is a distinctive feature of the framework. Children’s rights to services that aim to combat potential inequalities, based on race, disability and social background, are encapsulated within the espoused vision. The framework emphasises the key role and contribution of parents, families and communities; the provision of high quality decentralised universal services that place children’s needs at the heart of service delivery; and a shift from crisis to early intervention and prevention.