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Day care services
Day Care of children is defined by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (Care Commission) as “a service which provides care for children on non-domestic premises for a total of more than two hours per day and on at least six days per year.  This includes nursery classes, creches,  after school clubs and play groups and can be run on a public, private or voluntary basis”.   (Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care).

To provide any of these services, you must be registered with the Care Commission.  The National Care Standards  make sure you are providing the highest standard of care, they highlight the standards expected and will be the basis for inspections by Care Commission Inspectors.  Nurseries will also be inspected by HMIE where Pre-school education is provided.
  

Workers employed in these services are required to register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as a Lead Practitioner / Manager, Practitioner or Support worker.

Everyone who registers will need to

  • have or gain a relevant qualification.
  • be assessed as a suitable person to enter the social services workforce, including an Enhanced Disclosure Scotland check
  • sign a declaration agreeing to abide by the codes of practice for social services workers.
For further information speak to your employer or contact SSSC at enquiries@sssc.uk.com or call the information line on 0845 60 30 891
  • Nurseries
  • Playgroups
  • Out Of School Care
  • Crèches
  • Childminding Services

This generally refers to centres where children can learn and develop in a safe, stimulating and caring environment. Staff provide experiences and activities which are carefully planned and are appropriate to the age, stage of development and interests of the children. There may be regional differences in what these centres are called, but as a guide:

  • Nursery Schools and classes provide free, part -time pre-school education places for children aged 3 – 5 years and may be independent, private or managed by a local authority

  • Private or Day Nurseries provide care and learning for children from birth - 5 years and are generally open all day, Monday to Friday, for most weeks in the year. Parents who work, generally find they require these additional opening times. Many Private or Day nurseries are in partnership with their local authority to provide funded pre-school education for 3 – 5 year olds

  • Early Years or Child and Family Centres provide care, learning and support for children under 5 years and their families. They are normally open Monday to Friday for most weeks of the year and most will provide funded pre-school education for 3 – 5 year olds

Playgroups provide sessions of play and education for children aged between 2 and 5 years old. Parents usually help the Play Leaders on a rota basis and many parents learn more about child development through their involvement. They are generally run by a management committee of parents on a voluntary basis.

Some playgroups also work in partnership with the local authority to provide funded, part time pre-school education places for three and four year olds.

Gaelic playgroups, or Croileagans, are also available in some areas.

Nurseries and playgroups are inspected by the Care Commission and those providing pre-school education have an integrated inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education and the Care Commission
Out of school clubs provide care and activities for school aged children before and after school and during school holidays, in a secure, relaxing, friendly and supportive environment.

Play Workers encourage and support the children to plan a range of activities and experiences, to enable the children to play, learn and have fun in groups. Through their discussions and observations of the children they provide appropriate activities, experiences and resources.

Out of School Care is inspected by the Care Commission to ensure a high quality of care and experiences.
Crèches provide short-time care and play activities for children aged birth to five years. If they run for more than two hours per day and on at least six days per year, they are required to be registered with and inspected by the Care Commission.
Childminders are self-employed professional childcarers, who look after at least one child (up to the age of 16 years) for more than a total of two hours per day, usually in the childminders’s own home. They provide care and education for other people's children in a family setting, providing in a safe and secure environment where they make a positive contribution to the children’s learning and development.

As Childminders are required to register as a service with the Care Commission, they are not required to register with SSSC. Care Commission Inspectors use the National Care Standards as the basis for their inspections to make sure that childminders are providing the highest standard of care. Click here to hear more from Abbi about Childminding.
 

What do the staff do?

Children learn through play.  Staff in Day Care and Childminding Services  will provide a comfortable, secure, supportive and stimulating environment in which children can learn, relax and have fun.  They will observe, record and report on individual children’s progress and use this information to provide play activities and other experiences appropriate to their individual needs and stage of development. This will encourage children to reach their full potential in all areas of development.  Parents are key educators in their children’s lives and staff will work with them to support their children. 

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