Misplaced criticism could affect Bill to improve lives of children

Central to the proposals to achieve this in the Bill is to put the child – their needs and wellbeing – at the centre of how we deliver services to children. This represents a massive culture shift for everyone who works with children. It means rethinking how we plan services for children, how public bodies can share information when something may be going wrong in a child's life and how we make sure children know about and can access the services they need.

Unfortunately some of the fundamental and most important proposals have already come in for criticism, including the one for a "named person". The main task, as set out in the Bill, will simply be to act as the first point of contact for children and families. If additional support is needed then the named person will help co-ordinate the various public bodies involved. Yet some commentators have criticised the named person proposal as an extension of the nanny state and too expensive to implement.

Neither of these criticisms is justified. Depending on the age of the child, a health visitor or teacher will usually take on the role and in most cases will do no more than they do now.

The named person role has already been implemented with great success in the Highland Council area. Barnardo's Scotland staff report that the system has helped ensure children get the support they need when they need it. There has also been a significant reduction in the number of non-offence concerns referred to the Children's Reporter and so less time is spent on writing reports.

It is right that the proven benefits of this approach are now rolled out across Scotland to ensure all children benefit. Barnardo's Scotland urges Ministers and MSPs to be brave, and seize on this opportunity to transform the lives of children in Scotland. It would be a real shame if misinformed criticism of the Bill resulted in us missing this crucial opportunity to make sure we get it right for every child.

Martin Crewe,

Director of Barnardo's Scotland,

235 Corstorphine Road,

Edinburgh.

Childcare is an issue that affects a huge number of families in Scotland – and across the UK – with many parents often struggling between working extra hours or full-time hours to ease financial pressures in the home, and finding flexible, affordable childcare that works for them and their family.

Children in Scotland was encouraged by the generally constructive and consensual debate in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday.

All parties appear to be willing to put aside political differences to work together to take forward this vital issue.

We were, however, disappointed to hear that Hugh Henry's proposal for a Scottish Childcare Commission appeared to be rejected out of hand by the Scottish Government.

Such a commission could play an important role in delivering the commitment held across the parties to making childcare in Scotland world class.

We urge all those in the sector, and parents, to act upon Mike Russell's call for ideas and suggestion and, for our part, will continue to work, independently and with partners, to keep the childcare issue on the political agenda.

Jackie Brock

Chief Executive,

Children in Scotland,

Princes House,

5 Shandwick Place,

Edinburgh.

I think school pranks are symptomatic of our modern ethos that children want to destroy their links with their past ("Crackdown on school pranks", The Herald, May 9).

So the children seek to disavow their own good name and achievements before the succeeding generation supersedes them.

We are all taught to be constantly looking to the future to achieve. I fear that we no more feel at one with the community that went before than we do with our contemporaries. We do not always build on the achievements of the past but compete to invent a new future.

I hope teachers in Scotland can find a way of running against this ethos of competitiveness and inspire in young people a feeling of pleasure in co-operation and valuing their own past.

Helen Kay,

7 Kings Cramond,

Edinburgh.