Coming together to help improve children's lives

More than 200 people attended the second North Lanarkshire Nurture Conference aimed at improving the lives of all children in the area.
North Lanarkshire Nurture Conference - Paul Jukes (Chief Executive, North Lanarkshire Council), Alison MacDonald (Principal Educational Psychologist, North Lanarkshire Council), Lorraine Fischer (Education Officer, Early Years and Childcare, North Lanarkshire Council), Tina Hendry (Kinship Carer), Sally Wassell (independent social worker).North Lanarkshire Nurture Conference - Paul Jukes (Chief Executive, North Lanarkshire Council), Alison MacDonald (Principal Educational Psychologist, North Lanarkshire Council), Lorraine Fischer (Education Officer, Early Years and Childcare, North Lanarkshire Council), Tina Hendry (Kinship Carer), Sally Wassell (independent social worker).
North Lanarkshire Nurture Conference - Paul Jukes (Chief Executive, North Lanarkshire Council), Alison MacDonald (Principal Educational Psychologist, North Lanarkshire Council), Lorraine Fischer (Education Officer, Early Years and Childcare, North Lanarkshire Council), Tina Hendry (Kinship Carer), Sally Wassell (independent social worker).

The theme of this year’s event was promoting positive attachment experiences for all children to help them thrive physically, socially, psychologically and emotionally.

Alison MacDonald, principal educational psychologist with North Lanarkshire Council was one of the key speakers.

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She said: “Babies are born utterly helpless and in order to survive need to keep their carers close.

“Research confirms that early relationships play a critical role in infant brain development and lay the foundation for the way the individual relates to others and the world around them throughout their lives.”

To date over 1,300 people have completed training in the ‘Solihull Approach’, which supports emotional health and well-being in children, families and adults.

Those attending the event included staff from NHS, North Lanarkshire Council’s Early Years and Social Work sections, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the voluntary sector.

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Council chief executive Paul Jukes and NHS Lanarkshire chief executive Calum Campbell opened the conference and the other keynote speakers included Sally Wassell, who has 40 years experience in social work, and Re-Attached Parenting founder Tina Hendry.