With so much really useful and practical advice and guidance around we thought you might find it useful if we collated a few together to share with you. We hope you find them helpful.
May Calendar – Action for Happiness
This Meaningful May Calendar has daily actions for May 2020 to help us respond to this global crisis with a sense of purpose and meaning.
Click here for further useful information from Action for Happiness
Top tips for bedtime = Parent Club
Many parents are reporting that due to the current COVID-19 situation they are seeing changes in their children’s sleeping patterns etc, Parent Club provides really useful advice and top tips – visit Parent Club and enter ‘sleeping’ to their search facility to view a host of options to explore.
What’s the Problem? – Stop it now
Being online with their friends, doing lessons etc. is the norm at the moment for our children – What’s the problem? – is a useful guide for parents about staying safe online and what to do if problems arise from ‘Stop it Now’
Click here to access
At Home with Ziggy toolkit (as highlighted in Education Scotland)
Road Safety Scotland’s free ‘Go Safe with Ziggy!’ road safety learning resource helps equip young children with the skills, knowledge and attitudes that will help them stay safe now, and in later life. Download the toolkit here.
Mindfulness – Information from NHS
NHS state:
“Paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you – can improve your mental wellbeing”.
This useful page provides you with access to ‘mood self-assessment’ quiz, information on ‘mindfulness’ and links to other useful wellbeing information.
Click here to access
Care and Learning Alliance
We have created several different pages on our website which we hope families are finding useful. Check them out at:
Keep safe information for families during COVID-19 – quick useful links to both national and local services to support families
Click here to access
Play and Learning Ideas – lots of simple play ideas to do at home for children of all ages
Click here to access
Keep up to date with news from CALA services – our practitioners from each of our sessions are working hard to stay connected and continue to support their children and families. Each setting is posting messages and ideas.
Click here to access.
Child Protection – Information on how to keep children safe and how to share concerns.
Click here to access.
Update information and upcoming events
/0 Comments/in Uncategorised /by ICT AdminCare Inspectorate Update
ELC including childminders and out of school care
The announcement made by the First Minister on Thursday 21 May 2020 outlined the Scottish Government Route Map and a phased approach is planned to the lifting of lockdown. The First Minister was clear in her message that each stage will be reviewed and take account of scientific evidence and research before we move forward.
Click here to read more
Share the Love 2020 – Fri 29th – Sun 31st May
The ‘Share The Love’ festival is Who Cares? Scotland digital festival to support participation and engagement activities for people with care experience across the country during this period of isolation and social distancing. The festival will include a variety of different activities and broadcasts that cover learning, getting active and showcasing talents.
Click here to find out more
Words up Wednesdays
Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) team in Highland are hosting an exciting weekly opportunity on Wednesday’s during June to focus on one of the Words Up key messages each week.
Click here to find out more
Information on reopening of schools/childcare etc.
/0 Comments/in Uncategorised /by ICT AdminLetter to all childcare providers from Scottish Government ELC Directorate
Yesterday, the First Minister made a statement to the Scottish Parliament setting out Scotland’s routemap through and out of the crisis, including a phased approach out of lockdown.
Click on the link to access a letter from the Scottish Government Early Learning and Childcare Directorate to all childcare providers outlining what this will mean for us all.
Click here to access
Parent Club support for parents on the reopening of Schools/ELC’s
Parent Club ha provided useful information to help inform parents of how schools/ELC’s will reopen over the coming months.
Parent Club state:
Click here to access
Information on transitions and Gaelic language learning at home resources
/0 Comments/in Uncategorised /by ICT AdminEarly Learning and Childcare Highland
ELC Highland has posted updated information on Developmental Overviews and transitions to Primary 1 in the current situation due to COVID-19.
Read the full article on ELC Highland blog by clicking here:
Cluichidh sinn Còmhla’ – Resources to Support Gaelic Language Learning at Home
Cluichidh sinn Còmhla’ is a new resource created in collaboration with Early Years Practitioners who are linking ‘Bumps to Bairns’ play-based learning activities to language opportunities.
Read the full article on ELC Highland blog by clicking here
Update on the use of PPE in Childcare settings
/0 Comments/in Uncategorised /by ICT AdminClick on the link below to listen to a short video clip from Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director sharing information about what the science tells us and why childcare and education workers don’t need special protective equipment or face coverings while caring for children in hubs/settings
Click here to access the video
Playful Project Packs
/0 Comments/in Covid -19 /by ICT AdminPlayful Project Packs.
Click here to read more about the project in the media article in the John O’Groats Journal and Caithness Courier
Update Information
/0 Comments/in Uncategorised /by ICT AdminCareer Advice – Skills Development Scotland (SDS)
As First Minister has just announced, anyone concerned about their learning or work during the current crisis can now access free one-to-one career advice through SDS helpline on 0800 917 8000
Click here to access the media release from SDS
Skills Development Scotland Online Portal – free access to online learning materials
SDS has introduced an online learning portal to connect people with thousands of free-to-access online learning materials. Additional opportunities will be included in the coming weeks and months. People who have been furloughed or made redundant are being encouraged to develop their skills with the help of this new online resource.
Click here to access the media release from SDS
Children’s Parliament – National children’s wellbeing survey
Children’s Parliament is supporting a national survey for children aged 8 to 14 years old. It is designed to measure the wellbeing of children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey is anonymous and can be accessed here.
Care Inspectorate – Young inspectors video message
Our young inspectors have made a video to share their thoughts and ideas about staying safe and getting through the lockdown
Practical information and advice
/0 Comments/in Uncategorised /by ICT AdminWith so much really useful and practical advice and guidance around we thought you might find it useful if we collated a few together to share with you. We hope you find them helpful.
May Calendar – Action for Happiness
This Meaningful May Calendar has daily actions for May 2020 to help us respond to this global crisis with a sense of purpose and meaning.
Click here for further useful information from Action for Happiness
Top tips for bedtime = Parent Club
Many parents are reporting that due to the current COVID-19 situation they are seeing changes in their children’s sleeping patterns etc, Parent Club provides really useful advice and top tips – visit Parent Club and enter ‘sleeping’ to their search facility to view a host of options to explore.
What’s the Problem? – Stop it now
Being online with their friends, doing lessons etc. is the norm at the moment for our children – What’s the problem? – is a useful guide for parents about staying safe online and what to do if problems arise from ‘Stop it Now’
Click here to access
At Home with Ziggy toolkit (as highlighted in Education Scotland)
Road Safety Scotland’s free ‘Go Safe with Ziggy!’ road safety learning resource helps equip young children with the skills, knowledge and attitudes that will help them stay safe now, and in later life. Download the toolkit here.
Mindfulness – Information from NHS
NHS state:
This useful page provides you with access to ‘mood self-assessment’ quiz, information on ‘mindfulness’ and links to other useful wellbeing information.
Click here to access
Care and Learning Alliance
We have created several different pages on our website which we hope families are finding useful. Check them out at:
Week ending 1st May 2020: Summary of information updates
/0 Comments/in Uncategorised /by ICT AdminThe Care Inspectorate shared the following information:
Safety Notice from Care Inspectorate
IRIC Alcohol-based hand rubs risk of fire
Information form Highland Third Sector Interface (HTSI)
HTSI has created a COVID-19 response website – ‘Highland Community COVID-19 Response’
There are a lot of resources available for Third Sector Organisations – from Social Media tutorials to Self-Care
You can also register to volunteer – HTSI is maintaining a register of volunteers who are ready and willing to support across the Highland Region
Click here to access the site
Keeping Safe Online
/0 Comments/in Child Protection, Covid -19 /by ICT AdminWith many children and young people spending more time online, it’s comforting for parents/carers to know that you’re doing everything you can to help ensure they do so safely. Have a look at these useful guides providing helpful information to help you keep children and young people of all ages safe online:
Internet matters 0 – 5 years,
Internet matters 6 – 10 years,
Internet matters 11 – 13 years and 14+
Parent guide
Click here to access the resources on our ‘Child Protection Useful Publications’ page under ONLINE SAFETY
Statement from Highland Child Protection Committee
/0 Comments/in Child Protection, Covid -19 /by ICT AdminClick here to access
Important update from Highland Child Protection Committee
/0 Comments/in Uncategorised /by ICT AdminThe Highland Child Protection Committee has issued an update to Child Protection Guidance for during COVID-19. They state:
Click here to access
A day in the life of a CALA Practice Manager during lockdown
/0 Comments/in Uncategorised /by ICT AdminToday is ‘International take your child to work day’. This annual event on the 4th Thursday in April is an educational program in the United States and Canada where parents take their children to work with them for one day. The day is designed to help children explore the workforce. With children out of school and many of us working from home at the moment, don’t forget to consider the positive ‘learning and insights to the world of work’ your children will be getting from watching you work (they will be learning even when you think they are not watching!).
To celebrate, our CALA Practice Manager, Donna Sinclair has shared insight to her ‘lockdown’ working day with us along with some photos of her working alongside her children and just to cheer us all up – a few of her super cute furry friends!
From Donna: