Refreshed Early Learning & Childcare National Induction Resource

Scottish Government (Childcare) have announced the refresh of the ELC National Induction Resource.

They state:

The ELC National Induction Resource,  produced collaboratively with leading partners, has been refreshed to provide new ELC employees with all the relevant information they need on what to expect in their first few months in post, including the most up-to-date resources and best practice.

Click here to access the resource

Click here to hear about the resource from Maree Todd – Minister for Children and Young People

We have also added the direct link to the resource on our CALA PRACTITIONER HUB for quick and easy future access.

Care Inspectorate Poster – Keeping children and families safe in your ELC setting

The Care Inspectorate has produced a helpful poster to help ELC settings keep children and families safe from the spread of COVID-19.

Click here to view and download the poster

Using ‘My World Triangle in Practice’ (CPL Opportunity)

Tuesday 6th October: 2-3pm

CALA members are invited to join our online virtual continuous professional development session – Using My World Triangle in Practice.

The My World Triangle is a useful tool to build a picture of the whole child, strengths, and pressures to enable us to identify the best way to support the child and their family and work with other agencies. 

We will look at ways to use the tool effectively and will also consider what Trauma-informed Practice is, and how we can become more aware of the impact of trauma for children and families.

Click here for further details

Click here to book online

Dingwall Ducklings

During the summer holidays, Dingwall Ducklings were delighted to have some refurbishment done. Patio doors have been fitted and decking built to make freeflow play from the playroom to the garden area easier. The lovely large patio doors have also helped more natural light into the playroom making it bright and airy. 

Many thanks to Kenny Ross (K. Ross Joinery) for fitting the doors and a very special thanks to Stuart MacBean (parent) for donating the decking and the workforce to get the job done! 

We think our Dingwall Ducklings photo says it all!

A special delivery supports children’s transition back to Reay ELC

Practitioners in Reay had a special delivery left outside of their setting this week! The children were super excited to open the parcel and find a tiger puppet and a letter introducing ‘Timmy the Tiger.’

The children discussed what they could do to make Timmy feel welcome and safe and decided that this week they would plan and build a special ‘den’ for him.

Senior Early Years Practitioner Yvonne explained that they will be using ‘Timmy the Tiger’ as a learning character to support children’s recall and learning experiences in a variety of ways.  For example,  before lockdown the children were working on a book on  SHANARRI and had started with SAFE and HEALTHY, using photos, pictures and children’s comments and descriptions. Next steps will be to revisit these encouraging children to tell Timmy the Tiger all about it, embedding and consolidating their understanding of what it means to be safe and healthy.  Children’s annual participation in the local garden show will be done virtually this year with Timmy the Tiger’s support to share photographs, recognise and celebrate children’s achievements with their families.

New e-module

CALA are delighted to announce the launch of their new module to the CALA e-learning zone – Gender Equal Play: breaking down barriers. 

Children’s understanding of gender is influenced and reinforced from a very young age through interactions and experiences with family, culture, lifestyle, the media, education, childcare environments and the wider community.

The module will support parents and practitioners understanding of how to support gender equality through nonbiased practice with young children.

The module is a mixed media presentation which will guide learners through key messages in a clear, straightforward and interesting way. Video, audio, simple interactive tasks, links to national and relevant guidance, along with suggested further reading are suggested and used to explain and illustrate important learning points and consolidate learning.

The module is aimed at:

  • All Managers, practitioners, community groups, support staff or volunteers who work with or for children and young people.
  • Parent, carers and significant family adults in children’s families
  • Students and or those considering a career in childcare.

Visit www.calaelearning.co.uk for further information.

ELC Childcare Improvement Programme: Bitesize resources

The ‘Early Learning and Childcare programme’ announced the release of a series of online bitesize resources on the Care Inspectorate Hub which will support services to complete their Key Question 5 self-evaluation

Care Inspectorate state:

“The flexible design of the bitesize resources means all ELC staff can view the four sessions at any time – supporting them to raise their knowledge and skills in specific areas. ?Anyone can access them, so it’s a helpful resource for the wider ELC sector. ?They are centred on the programme’s vision which is to see an increased number of ELC settings achieve the national standard.

  1. Key Question 5 self-evaluation
  2. Quick wins in ELC Care Inspectorate inspections
  3. Introduction to quality improvement in an ELC context.

The sessions share some pointers and reminders which will help raise knowledge on the information and detail required to ensure ELC settings facilitate self-evaluation. “

The first in the series introduces and supports services in completing their Key Question 5 self-evaluation? The sessions have been designed to be viewed in sequence.

Click here to access

CALA Virtual Pyjama Party celebrating Book Week Scotland!

CALA Family Services Team has been awarded funding from the Scottish Book Trust to support CALA Toddler Groups to come together to create stories, play, learn and have fun culminating in a virtual pyjama party to celebrate Book Week Scotland.

Before we get to the pyjama party however our Family Service Practitioners are looking for your toddler’s creativity to help us write our very own storybook!

The story will be about a character called ‘Puff’ who visits our toddler communities across the Highlands. We need your help to create pictures of things you enjoy on windy days or pictures of your local area.

If you would like to take part, please send your pictures to [email protected] by the 16th September.

We will be posting further information shortly about our VIRTUAL PYJAMA PARTY!

Click here to access a short video with further details

Further information for Toddler Groups

CALA sought further clarification from the Scottish Government on re-opening of Toddler Groups for outside sessions. The following response was received  which indicates that this is not possible at this time as Toddler Groups do not fall into either of the criteria given:

“Unregulated activity clubs for young people under the age of 18 are not yet permitted to open. This is to further limit opportunities for virus transmission and ensure that the transition back to school is successful.

However, if the activity takes place outdoors it may be able to open if it:

is providing training for an organised children’s sporting activity and can operate within the guidance from their regulated body of sport; or

is providing a community learning and development service, such as youth work, and is able to operate within the guidance for this sector

is providing organised outdoor play activity in line with the existing public health guidance (i.e outdoor meetings in groups of maximum 15 people from 5 households)

We hope this helps clarify things and we will continue to keep you updated as soon as we receive further information.

Meanwhile, you will find resources you may find helpful on our website

Parent Portal

Baby massage, stories and songs from our Family Services Teams

Play and Learning ideas

Gaelic songs, stories and ideas

 

Important information for all Toddler Groups

CALA requested guidance from the Scottish Government on the re-opening of Toddler Groups. Scottish Government have kindly responded with the following information with regards to all non-regulated services such as toddler groups:

“Schools and regulated ELCs are beginning again from 11 August and we are receiving queries about whether other indoor activity may resume at the same time.

The answer is that indoor activities for children and young people which are not overseen by a regulator should not start again until agreed guidance is in place.  Unfortunately, back to school does not mean back to normality and for now, ensuring that the transition back to school is successful is our top priority.

For now, activities for children and young people under the age of 18 should continue online or outdoors in line with existing guidance. 

We know that these indoor activities are of huge value to children, young people and families across Scotland and our ambition are to get them open soon as soon as this is deemed appropriate.  We will provide further information about timing with additional guidance where this is necessary”.

We hope this information is useful. Please keep checking in with our Parent Portal for further updates and useful links to a wide range of information to support parents and carers.

Moving on with CALA

We’ve been just blown away by the number of daily views, parent interaction and feedback that our Family Information and Support pages (developed in response to Covid-19) have received over the last term – thank you for helping to keep us all so connected!

In recognition that the summer holidays are here and how we are so looking forward to the re-opening of our childcare settings in August we’re moving on with what information we provide whilst retaining what you told us was most useful but with a fresh new look!  Some areas are still work in progress, however, we’re delighted to announce the launch of our new Parents Portal and Practitioners Portal full of carefully selected items including Health and Wellbeing we think will be of most interest to you.  Our ‘Family Servicespage shares your favourite play/videos/songs and stories in English and Gaelic. Our ‘News from CALA Settings’ will be populated just before the start of the new term so you’ll know just what to expect when your child returns to their setting.

Why not have a look, we’d love to have your feedback https://www.careandlearningalliance.co.uk

Updated guidance on re-opening of ELC and OSC

Friday 3rd July 2020: ELC reopening guidance update

The Scottish Government Early Learning and Childcare Directorate have issued a letter to all Early Learning and Childcare providers containing an update on reopening guidance issued on the 15th June 2020.

Click here to access the letter.


ELC online sessions for Childcare Providers and Childminders

Online Support Sessions on Reopening Guidance for Childcare Settings – for childcare providers and childminders

The Scottish Government and the Care Inspectorate are hosting a series of online support sessions on reopening guidance for the childcare sector, which will begin on Friday 10th July, 2pm – 3pm.

Click here for further details and information on how to book.


Friday 3rd July: School-age childcare services reopening guidance 

The Scottish Government has released new guidance to support planning for the wider reopening of school-age childcare services in Phase 3 of Scotland’s Routemap.

The Scottish Government Early Learning and Childcare Directorate have issued a letter to all childcare providers detailing the guidance for the re-opening of Out of School Care.

Click here to access the new guidance