At SOSCN, we are now running online book club that our school age childcare service members can take part in.

The idea is that colleagues from all around the country read the same book (or chapters/sections) that will encourage continued professional development. We then meet online via Zoom to share our opinions on the subjects and content of the book, creating discussion with our fellow professionals and learning opportunities.

Doing this as a group will hopefully help keep us motivated to read, create a platform to share ideas and opinions, and network with colleagues in different parts of the country.

Books (or research papers, guidance documents, etc) will focus on subjects that could help our professional development. For example, subjects can include; play, behavioural management, trauma, child development, etc.

Based on consultation with our members, the following was decided:

• The book club will meet every 6 weeks. We will however take into consideration busy periods/holiday times etc, to ensure members have ample time to read the book.
• At the end of each book club meeting, the date for the following meeting will be set. The day of the week will be flexible to help take into consideration members busy diaries.
• Meetings will usually start at 10am and can last up to 90 minutes.

How to join

Please see our Eventbrite Page to see if there are any upcoming meetings: SOSCN Eventbrite

FAQs

We have some frequently asked questions (FAQs) below, but if there is anything else you’d like to know, please email patrick@soscn.org

Where can I find this book?

You should be able to find this book (or request it) at your local or educational establishment library, or find it to purchase online and in stores. Second hand copies can be found on popular second-hand marketplaces, and e-reader versions are available too.

What do you I to do to prepare?

Simply grab a copy of the book and read it. Whilst reading it, note down any points or pages that resonate with you, that you can then bring to the group discussion.

Prior to the meeting, you will be emailed with a prompt to share your discussion points to help us organise the group discussion.

Who is the book club for?

The SOSCN Professional Development Book Club is for members of the Scottish Out of School Care Network that work in the school age childcare sector. Whether you are a volunteer, support worker, practitioner or manager, workers from all levels are welcome.

What will happen at the meeting?

The meeting will be online via Zoom. Details for accessing the Zoom meeting will be sent the week before the meeting.

At the meeting, we will have a discussion about the book. Depending on numbers, we might discuss as a whole group, in smaller breakout groups, or a mix of both.

The book club is new for us, and we want you to help shape it to make sure it is useful for you.

The whole point of the book club is to learn, consider different ways of doing things, encourage reflection on our own practice, and think about if we can use any of our learning to develop practice. For some, it might even be reassuring that you are doing good things already.

Whatever you take from it, we know that our members find it really valuable when you have the chance to speak, discuss and network with colleagues from around the country that you don't get the chance to speak with everyday.

When will we vote for the next book to read?

We will email our members when the next vote is open, with the option of 4 books/papers/documents to choose from based on subjects our members have recommended.

From time to time, we may have special editions of the book club, focusing on recently published guidance document, for example. Notifications for these will go out through our membership emails, and also through our Eventbrite page, you can follow us on Eventbrite here: SOSCN Eventbrite