About the Initiative

In 1997, Aberdeenshire Council were successful in their bid for funding from the Scottish Office Early Intervention Grants Programme and an Early Intervention Project was started. The focus for the project was Raising Achievement in Primary Schools. Heightened awareness about the issues in the effective acquisition of literacy in the early school years (Scottish Office Interchange 39 document presents a coherent summary), together with concern over current levels of achievement in early literacy has prompted the establishment of Early Intervention programmes across the country. Evidence from current research and the experience of previous intervention initiatives, such as the Pilton Project, have informed the principles of early intervention.

Following the success of the initial project and continued funding from SEED, the authority has subsequently committed to develop and sustain the Early Intervention Initiative with the appointment of a permanent team.