Renfrewshire Council is among individuals and organisations highlighted for their work to improve services for babies, children, young people and families at the Quality Improvements Awards 2017.
The Council picked up the top award in the Excellence for QI in Primary Years category for a project at Our Lady of Peace Primary School to improve children’s wellbeing, behaviour and readiness to learn. Glencoats Primary School in Renfrewshire won the Most Inspiring or Innovative Project award for a new model of learning which helps children from disadvantaged backgrounds entering primary one to engage more effectively with the learning environment.
The Quality Improvement Awards are designed to celebrate innovative quality improvement work that is strengthening support and services for families across Scotland, helping ensure every child has the best possible start in life and can reach their full potential as they grow up.
The awards were open to those delivering quality improvement work through the Maternity and Children’s Quality Improvement Collaborative (MCQIC), run by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Children and Young People Improvement Collaborative (CYPIC), run by the Scottish Government.
The 2017 awards attracted 140 entries across 10 categories, detailing how local people and teams have improved health, early years and family services and schools.
Maree Todd, Minister for Childcare and Early Years said: “The Quality Improvement Awards provide an opportunity to showcase and share proven approaches that are making a positive and lasting difference to the lives of children, young people and families.
“Evidence shows that collaboration builds capacity and interventions built on collaboration have the biggest impact. These Awards demonstrate clearly, the link between collaborative working, better practice and improved outcomes and it is clear there are great examples already taking place across Scotland.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the winners and thank everyone who submitted an entry.”
Dr Brian Robson, Medical Director, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “The QI awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by professionals and organisations throughout the public sector.
“Their work is imperative in helping to improve the life chances for babies and young people across Scotland. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees who have shown such dedication to making Scotland the best place to grow up.”
Winners were announced at the QI Awards ceremony on Tuesday 21st November at the Glasgow Science Centre.
Photo: Our Lady of Peace Primary School, Renfrewshire using Nurturing Approaches to improve children’s social and emotional wellbeing and readiness to learn
Photo: Glencoats Primary School – Enhancing Early Level Learning Project
Excellence for QI in Primary Years: Our Lady of Peace Primary School
Using nurturing approaches to improve children’s social and emotional wellbeing and readiness to learn. The Sunshine Group at Our Lady of Peace Primary School in Renfrewshire provides targeted nurture support to children with a range of emotional and social difficulties. Using quality improvement methodology, the school created key changes to improve children’s wellbeing, behaviour and readiness to learn – all of which can directly impact educational attainment. Key changes that were tested and measured included monthly parent drop-in sessions, a planning tool to inform consistent delivery, integration with a whole-school approach to nurturing, and evaluation of the impact of the changes. As a result, 93 per cent of children in the Sunshine Group have made improvements in social, emotional and behaviour measures. This whole-school nurturing approach has been implemented consistently across the school and is being up-scaled to include 22 other schools across the authority.
Most Inspiring / Innovative Project: Glencoats Primary School
Glencoats Primary School in Paisley is located in the most deprived area in Scotland. Data showed that pupils entering primary one arrived at a disadvantage in terms of their early skills, behaviours and health. Recognising these developmental challenges, the school used quality improvement to test, evaluate and introduce the Enhancing Early Level Learning model (EELL) to increase motivation in their youngest learners. EELL encompasses the principles of early level development and relies on the use of responsive and purposeful play experiences. The infant department has been remodelled to immerse children in a nurturing environment and engaging families in building positive and productive relationships with school was at the core of this project. The new ethos has completely transformed the school, with data and evaluation highlighting that 88 per cent of all primary one pupils are now achieving a high level of health and wellbeing as well as motivation and involvement.