Professionals and practitioners use SHANARRI to assess a child or young person's overall wellbeing and identify any concerns. The eight indicators offer a consistent approach and language that can be used across organisational and geographical boundaries. The wellbeing indicators provide common language to describe a child's needs and identify concerns. They encourage practitioners to think about a child holistically and not just focus on one area. They are the basic requirements for all children and young people to grow and develop and reach their full potential. Children and young people will progress differently, depending on their circumstances, but every child and young person has the right to expect appropriate support from adults to allow them to develop as fully as possible across the wellbeing indicators.
This is what a child's wellbeing might look like at various stages of their lives.
Safe Protected from abuse, neglect or harm. |
Active Opportunities to take part in a wide range of activities. |
Healthy High standards of physical and mental health; support to make healthy, safe choices. |
Respected Given a voice and involved in the decisions that affect their wellbeing. |
Achieving Support and guidance in learning, boosting skills, confidence and self-esteem. |
Responsible Taking an active role in their schools and community. |
Nurtured Having a nurturing and stimulating place to live and grow. |
Included Getting help and guidance to overcome inequalities; being full members of the communities in which they live and learn. |
Building the Ambition (Scottish Government, 2014) is national practice guidance to support staff in providing high quality early learning and childcare. It provides support for putting theory into practice with case studies and reflective questions, to promote discussion and help support improvement.