In order to become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens: all children and young people need to be safe, nurtured, active, healthy, achieving, included, respected and responsible.
The "Vision of Scotland's Ministers for all Scottish Children" outlines broad needs of all children and young people. These needs are described in the list below.
The language is consistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and sets out the intended outcomes for all policies and all services concerned with children and families. They can provide a holistic framework for individual plans to promote the wellbeing and interests of each child, because they provide prompts to well integrated assessment and planning for children.
Ministerial Vision for Scotland's Children:
- Safe: protected from abuse, neglect or harm at home, at school and in the community.
- Healthy: having the highest attainable standards of physical and mental health, access to suitable healthcare, and support in learning to make healthy and safe choices.
- Achieving: being supported and guided in their learning and in the development of their skills, confidence and self-esteem at home, at school, and in the community.
- Nurtured: having a nurturing place to live, in a family setting with additional help if needed or, where this is not possible, in a suitable care setting.
- Active: having opportunities to take part in activities such as play, recreation and sport which contribute to healthy growth and development, both at home and in the community.
- Respected: having the opportunity, along with carers, to be heard and involved in decisions which affect them.
- Responsible: having opportunities and encouragement to play active and responsible roles in their schools and communities and where necessary, having appropriate guidance and supervision.
- Included: having help to overcome social, educational, physical and economic inequalities and being accepted as part of the community in which they live and learn.