We work to promote and support maternal health and wellbeing, and early child development. Our aim is to ensure that all children in Scotland have the best possible start in life.
Actions
We are improving early child development and child and maternal health through our Early Child Development Transformational Change Programme (2023), and including:
- improving maternity and neonatal care by implementation of The Best Start, our five-year plan for those services
- offering free vitamins to all pregnant women to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby
- delivering the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme
- supporting maternal and infant nutrition
- funding free school meals for all children in primary 1 to 5 in local authority schools
- supporting delivery of a universal health visiting service to help ensure the health and wellbeing of all pre-school children
- delivering the Family Nurse Partnership programme to support first-time teenage mothers, as well as some mothers aged up to 24
- supporting delivery of the transformed school nurse role in order to promote the health of school aged children
- setting vaccination policy in Scotland to protect our children against serious vaccine preventable diseases
- supporting parents/carers with the cost of visiting sick babies and children in NHS inpatient care through our Young Patients Family Fund
- building and sharing learning about how to improve support for families that need it through the Children and Young Peoples Improvement Collaborative
- publishing the Play: vision statement and action plan 2025 to 2030 to support children of all ages and parents to access play, where and when they need it
Background
Our policies to support maternal and child health are part of Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) - our national approach to improving outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of children and young people.
You can find advice for before and during pregnancy, and for babies and toddlers, on NHS Inform and Parent Club. Parent Club offers practical tips and support for families across Scotland, while NHS Inform provides detailed health information.
Certification of pregnancy and baby loss prior to 24 weeks
We understand the importance of acknowledging pregnancy and baby loss. That's why we've introduced a Memorial Book of Pregnancy and Baby Loss Prior to 24 weeks. Read information on how to apply for a commemorative certificate and entry in the memorial book.
National Hub for reviewing and learning from the deaths of children and young people
Since October 2021 a National Hub has been in place to review and learn from the deaths of all children and young people in Scotland. The National Hub for reviewing and learning from the deaths of children and young people is administered and managed by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, in partnership with the Care Inspectorate.
Bills and legislation
The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005
Contact
Email: Central Enquiries Unit contactus@gov.scot
Telephone: 0300 244 4000
Post:
Improving Health and Wellbeing Division
Children and Families Directorate
Scottish Government
Area 2B (North)
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ