Early learning and childcare improvement programme
The Scottish Government has funded the ELC improvement programme to support early learning and childcare settings who offer funded places and are not currently meeting the quality criteria of the National Standard. The aim of the programme is to support funded settings to make the improvements they need to meet the quality criteria.
We work collaboratively with services through the delivery of learning events, providing individual improvement support and the sharing of good practice resources. We work with local authorities to support the improvement of early learning and childcare settings within their authority area.
Meet the team
Vicky Lamb, Senior Improvement Advisor
Hillary Brookes, Improvement Advisor
Linda Ferguson, Improvement Advisor
Lesley Mitchell, Improvement Support Assistant
External evaluation
The ELC improvement team were asked by Scottish Government to commission and external evaluation of their programme. The programme focuses on providing targeted support to those settings currently or at risk of, not meeting the National Standard. In addition to this the programme provides a range of universal resources to support all settings with improving quality.
The report demonstrates that there is a continuing and potentially even growing, demand for the support provided by the team. It concludes that to support settings in driving up the quality of care for children, and to enable the programme to work with a wider spectrum of settings, additional capacity and longevity of support through an extension to the current programme will be essential.
You can read the full report here.
Talking heads
Watch the latest in our series of talking heads interviews where Hillary talks to a manager from cohort 2 and her service inspector to find out about their experiences and the impact of the ELC improvement programme.
You can watch it here.
Bite size sessions
We have developed a range of bite sized sessions which are available to all services. These can be accessed by clicking the links below. If you have any feedback on these please get in touch with us via our email address. We look forward to hearing from you.
Please click here to view our latest flash report.
‘Tomorrow becomes never. No matter how small the task, take the first step now!’ - Tim Ferriss
To contact us please email elcimprove@careinspectorate.gov.scot
Day care of children section
Bitesize resources:
New Quality Framework bitesize:
Session 2:
The ELC Improvement Team have produced a series of bitesize sessions to introduce the new quality framework. In this second session we focus on how to use evaluative language and best practice guidance to complete your self evaluation.
Self Evaluation for Improvement - Your Guide
Session 1:
The ELC Improvement Team have produced a bitesize session to introduce the new quality framework. This session is the first in a series which will support you in using the framework to it's full potential. The aim of this session is to introduce the new quality framework for Early Learning and Childcare inspections.
Quality Improvement Bitesize:
We have updated our introductory to quality improvement methodology bitesize sessions.
There are four in this series which aim to introduce and support you in applying quality improvement methodology within your own service. These sessions are designed to be viewed consecutively, with short activities to support you in making sustained improvements within your service.
Week 1 - Identifying a quality issue:
Identifying an area - word doc.
Week 2 -Measurement and setting your aim:
Testing your idea example
Testing your idea
Week 3 - PDSA:
Change ideas doc.
Change planning example sheet
Change planning sheet
Model for Improvement
Week 4 - Implementing and sustaining quality improvement:
Personal Planning Bitesize:
We have recorded a short bite size session to support the guidance which was released in November. Links to the this and supporting guidance can be found below.
Helpful links to other websites
Quick Wins Bitesize:
We have developed a series of 5 bite sized sessions on quick wins. These aim to help you make easy to implement improvements that will have a positive impact. The changes can be delivered quickly, with minimal effort. We will release one session a week and you can chose the ones that will be helpful to you. The sessions are:
Medication
Safe recruitment
Scottish Social Services Council Registration
Notifications
Quality assurance calendars
**these videos are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International BY-NCO-ND. This licence allows users to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, and only so long as attribution is given to the Care Inspectorate.
The material must not be remixed, transformed or built upon un anyway.
To view a copy of the licence, visit: https//creativecommons.org/licences/by-ncp-nd-4.0
Week 1 - Medication:
Management of medication
in daycare of children and
childminding services
Week 2 - Safe Recruitment
Safer Recruitment Through Better Recruitment
Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice
Week 3 - Scottish Social Services Council Registration
Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice
Scottish Social Services Council registration
Week 4 - Notifications
Week 5 - Quality Assurance Calendars
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Sharing Practice and key resources:
National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021
Keeping children safe poster - SIMOA
Guide for Providers on Personal Planning - Early Learning and Childcare
Out To Play Section 11 Practitioners Supporting Children with Additional Support Needs
Good practice guidance: prevention and management of choking episodes in babies and children
Children as Human Rights Defenders Toolkit
Self-evaluation for improvement – your guide
Space to Grow: Indoor/outdoor settings
Children's rights legislation in Scotland: quick reference guide
Guidance on Peripatetic Management Arrangements
Food Matters: Nurturing happy, healthy children
Hygiene Requirements in Outdoor Nurseries in Scotland
Infection Prevention and Control in Childcare Settings (Day Care and Childminding Settings)
Reduce the Risks of Cot Death: Early Years Safe Sleeping Guide
Health and Social Care Standards: Easy Read version
Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers
How good is our early learning and childcare?
Hand Hygiene: information to support improvement
Management of medication in daycare of children and childminding services
Getting it right for every child: A guide to evaluating wellbeing in schools and nurseries
Out of school care section
-
Bitesize resources:
New Quality Framework bitesize:
Session 2:
The ELC Improvement Team have produced a series of bitesize sessions to introduce the new quality framework. In this second session we focus on how to use evaluative language and best practice guidance to complete your self evaluation.
Self Evaluation for Improvement - Your Guide
Session 1:
The ELC Improvement Team have produced a bitesize session to introduce the new quality framework. This session is the first in a series which will support you in using the framework to it's full potential. The aim of this session is to introduce the new quality framework for Early Learning and Childcare inspections.
Quality Improvement Bitesize:
We have updated our introductory to quality improvement methodology bitesize sessions.
There are four in this series which aim to introduce and support you in applying quality improvement methodology within your own service. These sessions are designed to be viewed consecutively, with short activities to support you in making sustained improvements within your service.
Week 1 - Identifying a quality issue:
Identifying an area - word doc.
Week 2 -Measurement and setting your aim:
Testing your idea example
Testing your idea
Week 3 - PDSA:
Change ideas doc.
Change planning example sheet
Change planning sheet
Model for Improvement
Week 4 - Implementing and sustaining quality improvement:
Personal Planning Bitesize:
We have recorded a short bite size session to support the guidance which was released in November. Links to the this and supporting guidance can be found below.
Helpful links to other websites
Quick Wins Bitesize:
We have developed a series of 5 bite sized sessions on quick wins. These aim to help you make easy to implement improvements that will have a positive impact. The changes can be delivered quickly, with minimal effort. We will release one session a week and you can chose the ones that will be helpful to you. The sessions are:
Medication
Safe recruitment
Scottish Social Services Council Registration
Notifications
Quality assurance calendars
**these videos are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International BY-NCO-ND. This licence allows users to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, and only so long as attribution is given to the Care Inspectorate.
The material must not be remixed, transformed or built upon un anyway.
To view a copy of the licence, visit: https//creativecommons.org/licences/by-ncp-nd-4.0
Week 1 - Medication:
Management of medication
in daycare of children and
childminding services
Week 2 - Safe Recruitment
Safer Recruitment Through Better Recruitment
Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice
Week 3 - Scottish Social Services Council Registration
Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice
Scottish Social Services Council registration
Week 4 - Notifications
Week 5 - Quality Assurance Calendars
Thank you for watching our bite sized session on quick wins we hope you have found these helpful. Please click the link below to complete a survey with your feedback. Thank you.
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Sharing Practice and key resources:
National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021
Out of school care: a review of children’s experiences
Keeping children safe poster - SIMOA
Guide for Providers on Personal Planning - Early Learning and Childcare
Out To Play Section 11 Practitioners Supporting Children with Additional Support Needs
Good practice guidance: prevention and management of choking episodes in babies and children
Children as Human Rights Defenders Toolkit
Self-evaluation for improvement – your guide
Space to Grow: Indoor/outdoor settings
Children's rights legislation in Scotland: quick reference guide
Guidance on Peripatetic Management Arrangements
Food Matters: Nurturing happy, healthy children
Hygiene Requirements in Outdoor Nurseries in Scotland
Infection Prevention and Control in Childcare Settings (Day Care and Childminding Settings)
Reduce the Risks of Cot Death: Early Years Safe Sleeping Guide
Health and Social Care Standards: Easy Read version
Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers
How good is our early learning and childcare?
Hand Hygiene: information to support improvement
Management of medication in daycare of children and childminding services
Getting it right for every child: A guide to evaluating wellbeing in schools and nurseries
Childminding section
-
Bitesize Resources:
New Quality Framework Bitesize:
Session 2:
The ELC Improvement Team have produced a series of bitesize sessions to introduce the new quality framework. In this second session we focus on how to use evaluative language and best practice guidance to complete your self evaluation.
Self Evaluation for Improvement - Your Guide
Session 1:
The ELC Improvement Team have produced a bitesize session to introduce the new quality framework. This session is the first in a series which will support you in using the framework to it's full potential. The aim of this session is to introduce the new quality framework for Early Learning and Childcare inspections.
Personal Plans Bitesize:
We have recorded a short bite size session to support the guidance which was released in November. Links to the this and supporting guidance can be found below.
Helpful links to other websites
Quick Wins Bitesize - Medication:
Management of medication
in daycare of children and
childminding services
-
Sharing Practice and key resources:
National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021
Keeping children safe poster - SIMOA
Out to play section 9 – childmind setting
Out To Play Section 11 Practitioners Supporting Children with Additional Support Needs
Our commitment to childminding in Scotland
Records childminding services must keep and guidance on notification reporting
Good practice guidance: prevention and management of choking episodes in babies and children
Self-evaluation for improvement – your guide
Children's rights legislation in Scotland: quick reference guide
Gender equal play in early learning and childcare
Infection Prevention and Control in Childcare Settings (Day Care and Childminding Settings)
Reduce the Risks of Cot Death: Early Years Safe Sleeping Guide
How good is our early learning and childcare?
Contact us
Vicky Lamb - Senior Improvement Advisor
Hillary Brookes - Improvement Advisor
Linda Ferguson - Improvement Advisor
Lesley Mitchell - Improvement Support Assistant
To contact us, please email elcimprove@careinspectorate.gov.scot
Tweet #ELCImprove
Archive - Bitesize session and previous ELC updates
LC Improvement Programme -Talking heads video
- The ELC improvement team have produced a talking heads recording featuring an ELC inspector and a service from cohort one of our programme. It shares the experience and impact the programme has had on the service and the evidence seen by the inspector. You can watch this here.
Bitesize Session - Scrutiny & Assurance during COVID19
In this bite size session we would like to share information about our current approach to the scrutiny of early learning and childcare services including childminders and out of school care. Information has previously been shared through our regular provider updates and we would ask you to continue to familiarise yourselves with these as they will provide you with the most recent and up-to-date information.
Bitesize Sessions - Key Question 5 self-evaluation:
Welcome to our series of four short, bitesize sessions to introduce and support services in completing their Key Question 5 self-evaluation. They share some pointers and reminders which will support you to think about the information and detail required to ensure you get the very best from your service self-evaluation. The sessions have been designed to be viewed in sequence.
To help us measure the impact of these sessions, we would be grateful if you could complete the short feedback questionnaire at the end of session four.
ELC self-evaluation: Introduction to self-evaluation (session 1)
ELC self-evaluation: How are we doing (session 2)
ELC self-evaluation: How do we know (session 3)
ELC self-evaluation: What are we going to do now (session 4)
To help us measure the impact of these sessions, please complete this short feedback questionnaire once you have watched all four sessions. Thank you.
COVID 19 Bitesize:
We have created a bitesize to share some key information and online resources which can support ELC services to operate safely as we learn to live with Covid-19. The information used as illustrations within these slides was the most up-to-date available guidance at the time of recording.
Links to any documents we reference throughout this bitesize can be found below this recording on our hub.
Early learning and childcare
National Landscape and Developments
Improvement support section
An introduction to the improvement support section and quality improvement methodology.
Health and Social Care Standards
The Health and Social Care Standards set out what we should expect when using health, social care or social work services in Scotland
Latest children and young people bulletin
A weekly bulletin produced by our policy team providing an update on the key developments concerning children and young people.
Children and Young People Bulletin: 22 - 28 September 2023
Children and Young People Bulletin: 22 - 28 September 2023Related resources
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