The IS continues to work with councils to maximise uptake of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) for eligible two-year-olds. This includes practical discussions, support on use of datapipeline.scot, learning practice and decisions taken where local uptake has increased, and identifying challenges or barriers. If you would like more information about this, please contact Ellen Ward.
Updated Funding Follows the Childcare and National Standard Operating Guidance was published by the Scottish Government in December 2023. In February, we supported policy officials by hosting webinars for Local Authority Leads and PVI providers that outlined the recent updates to the operating guidance.
Education officials invited the Improvement Service to lead a workshop at the recent South Lanarkshire Early Years Conference, attended by headteachers, heads of standalone settings, and funded provider managers. This workshop allowed participants to consider the totality of quality improvement support across South Lanarkshire and the importance of adopting a collective responsibility approach to quality improvement through partnership working. It was also an opportunity to encourage ELC professionals to feel confident in promoting and embracing quality improvements locally. If you would like more information about how we can support similar activities in your local area, please contact our team directly.
Earlier this month, the team visited Dysart Outdoor Nursery in Fife. Dysart is a pilot outdoor nursery is based within Ravenscraig Park in Kirkcaldy. The former bowling pavilion operates as the nursery base, providing storage for resources, a drop off and collection point as well as shelter in inclement weather, and is managed by the headteacher of Dysart Primary School. The provision currently operates 9am-3pm during term time, and children attend for two days per week alongside their current ELC provision.
On the day of the visit, staff and children were based at the local beach. The children took responsibility for risk assessing the beach - identifying boundaries and agreeing risks and hazards with staff. They also took this opportunity to collect various pieces of rubbish as they completed their risk assessment. Ravenscraig Park and surrounding areas offers a wealth of experience and opportunities to explore. The park is filled with wooded areas, greenspaces, the harbour, castle, playpark, allotment, walled garden are just some of the places the provision utilises. If you would like more information about this, please contact Emma Gartshore or Ellen Ward.