Collaboration & Celebration

The third Early Years Collaborative session is being held in Glasgow today and tomorrow. I spoke this morning and I was bowled over by the scale of it - 750 people attending which is actually an increase on the two previous events (there was also a waiting list) - and by the extraordinarily positive nature of everything that was happening.

From the science of cuddles ( presented by the CMO Sir Harry Burns and demonstrated from time to time by participants ) to the segmentation of data the event is designed to empower and enrich by applying an improvement methodology to the early years that works its way through the Community Planning Partnerships into every part of Scotland.

There were a number of international visitors , another Minister - Aileen Campbell- a civil service choir ( plus one of children from two primary schools in the Gorbals ) , key figures from health, education and social work , many tweeters, and lots and lots of passionate improvers who want to create a Scotland that genuinely is #thebestplacetogrowup.

Oh, and there was even a birthday celebration for one of the Argyll & Bute participants which sort of summed up the celebratory, positive nature of the thing.