The Scottish Government launched a consultation on the updated Early Learning and Childcare Statutory Guidance. The consultation will provide an opportunity for everyone involved in early learning and childcare to provide their views before the guidance is finalised.

Background

Scottish Government state:

“The Guidance will support local authorities in exercising their functions in relation to the delivery of early learning and childcare from 1 August 2020. It refreshes the Statutory Guidance published in 2014 and reflects the changes in the policy and legislative framework for the delivery of early learning and childcare. This includes the legislative changes, which were agreed by the Scottish Parliament in June 2019, to increase the statutory funded early learning and childcare entitlement for eligible children from 600 hours to 1140 hours from August 2020 and to support the implementation of the expanded entitlement”.

 Who should complete the consultation?

Everyone involved in early learning and childcare.

The consultation on the updated statutory guidance document can be found at: https://consult.gov.scot/children-and-families/early-learning-and-childcare-statutory-guidance/.  

The consultation will run until 4 March 2020.

The wonderful children at Lochinver wanted to share the story of ‘The First Christmas’ with us – here is the little film they have made. Words and scene-building by the children of Lochinver ELC!

 

Rothiemay Playgroup and Balhousie Care Home in Huntly,  have enjoyed a close relationship for a number of years. This intergenerational link is maintained through monthly visits between children and residents which help to maintain the meaningful cross age relationships.

Since the visits began we have seen increased confidence, patience and understanding from the children who regularly attend. For some of the children it has filled a void for those who either do not have grandparents close by or available to them.

On Monday 18^th November we all welcomed David Low the Critter Keeper to the Balhousie Care Home  with his menagerie of exotic and furry friends.

Here are some of our pictures from the day.

Discover more about the many benefits of intergenerational working across the ages in the ‘Bringing Generations Together’ document from the Care Inspectorate. Click here to access.

Rothiemay Playgroup is a registered charity. We are a small Playgroup and rely on a busy fundraising calendar and sponsorship events within the community so that we are able to offer a wide and varied approach to the Early Years. If you would like any more information or like to know how you can support us please get in touch at [email protected] 

We all have different traditions, some in our own families and some celebrated across our communities.  We loved hearing about the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóð from the National Literacy Trust.

On Christmas Eve, people exchange gifts of books and then read them straight away, snuggled up in front of the fire, eating chocolate or drinking hot chocolate.  What a cosy idea!

The National Literacy Trust is suggesting that this Christmas we follow the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóð – the Christmas book flood. To read more about this tradition including a list of fun ideas of how you could adapt the Jólabókaflóð tradition and resources, click here.

The National Literacy Trust is also promoting the Gift of Reading.  More children and young people own their own books, but a survey carried out found that there are still many who don’t. The survey found that children who own books are 6 times more likely to read above the level expected for their age.  So that’s a huge incentive to share books with children is it not?  You can read more about the survey by clicking here.

Education Scotland has been sharing some ‘Sketchnotes’ on the National Improvement Hub as a way of sharing effective practice and inspection highlights.

Education Scotland state:

“Education Scotland wanted to find some new ways of sharing effective practice identified during inspections. Using a sketchnote is a popular approach for providing a visual journey of activities. Sketchnotes provide a visual description of the practice and approaches which HM Inspectors have observed during scrutiny activities and are worth sharing more widely.”

Each ‘sketchnote’ example is accompanied by further background information, video interviews with staff, PDF examples and reflective questions to use individually or as a staff team to help you reflect on your own practice and identify any areas for improvement.

Click here for the full list of ‘sketchnote’ examples available on Education Scotland National Improvement Hub

ELC examples provided include:  

Cornton Nursery – Ownership of vision, aims and values

 Riccarton Early Childhood Centre – Using data to ensure progress

Green Acres Nursery –  Transition processes at all stages