It is wonderful to hear so many of you are back with the children this week. We want to thank all of you who helped campaign to make this happen and for specific funding to support the school age childcare sector. Over the past month, questions have been asked in Parliament about financial support to out of school care services and on the 2nd March, the First Minister clearly mentioned school age childcare in her parliamentary briefing. Never doubt the power of letters, emails and contacting your local politicians: it really has ensured that OSC has a higher profile within national government.

Last week we had a meeting with the Minister for Children and Young People, Maree Todd, MSP, and she asked us to pass on her thanks for the important work you all do. She was clear that she recognises the importance of school age childcare and, even more so during this pandemic. She reassured us that work on the national policy framework for school age childcare will continue into the next Parliament (if, of course they are forming the next government) and will be looking more widely at the financial support the sector needs short and longer term.

She also praised us and other national childcare organisations for our work, again specifying the importance of our communication of your issues and concerns to know what the sector, children and families need right now and in the future.

This is reflected in the publication of a progress report on the framework for school age childcare, and announcement of specific funding for March 2021 for school age childcare.

This week another historic legislative first happened in the Scottish Parliament, which we know will be welcomed by all in school age childcare, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child will be adopted in full by the Scottish Parliament, meaning that children's rights will be central to any policy development. Given that SOSCN has had the UNCRC in our aims and is a core thread in Achieving Quality Scotland, we are delighted at this landmark change for Scotland's children.

We are also sharing our Manifesto for School Age Childcare with you and please use it to campaign locally as you see fit. Find out across political parties who the candidates are for the election in your area and send them the Manifesto asking them what they are going to do to support school age childcare, if they get elected. It always helps a service to make councillors, MSPs and MPs aware of their value and how needed by families and children.

See below for lots of other news but once again thank you to all of you!

Irene, Andrew, Finlay and Greig.

SOSCN MANIFESTO FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE

Please see link below for SOSCN's Manifesto for School Age Childcare for the forthcoming election:

https://soscn.org/downloads/news/manifesto-for-sac-2021.pdf

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE FRAMEWORK FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE

The progress report has just been published today:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/school-age-childcare-progress-report/

SPECIFIC FUNDING FOR MARCH FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDCARE

Read the press release about this here:

https://www.gov.scot/news/support-for-providers-of-school-age-childcare/

LANDMARK FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS IN SCOTLAND

We are delighted that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill was passed unanimously.

Please see link below for letter from Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd to children and young people, those that work to support them, and to those that have campaigned for children's rights over the past decade and beyond in Scotland:

https://soscn.org/downloads/news/uncrc-incorporation-scotland-bill-letter-from-deputy-first-minister-and-minister-for-children-and-young-people.pdf

OUT TO PLAY PUBLICATION UPDATE - 3 NEW CHAPTERS

Today the Scottish Government, in partnership with Inspiring Scotland and the Care Inspectorate, have published 3 new chapters of Out To Play: https://www.gov.scot/publications/out-play-practical-guidance-creating-outdoor-play-experiences-children/

Out To Play is practical guidance to help create outdoor play experiences in childcare. The 3 new chapters cover supporting children with additional support needs, school-age childcare and childminders:

Early learning and childcare - Out to Play: guidance for out of school care providers - section 10

https://www.gov.scot/publications/out-play-section-10-out-school-care-providers/

Early learning and childcare - Out to Play: guidance for practitioners supporting children with additional support needs - section 11

https://www.gov.scot/publications/out-play-section-11-practitioners-supporting-children-additional-support-needs/

Early learning and childcare - Out to Play: childminding settings - guidance - section 9

https://www.gov.scot/publications/out-play-section-9-childminding-settings/

COVID-19 ASYMPTOMATIC TESTING UPDATES

Care Inspectorate registered OSC services should have received updates from the Scottish Government about arrangements for asymptomatic testing. One update is for the service provider (i.e., manager/management) and one is for ALL staff- please read and share the relevant update with staff members. The updates can also be accessed here:

For providers:

https://soscn.org/downloads/news/elc-testing-communications-provider-notice-day-care-of-children-settings-17-march-2021.pdf

For all staff:

https://soscn.org/downloads/news/elc-testing-communications-message-to-staff-via-sssc-17-march-2021.pdf

ZERO TOLERANCE AND CARE INSPECTORATE CALL FOR CASE STUDIES ON 'GENDER EQUAL PLAY' PUBLICATION

Have you used the 'Gender Equal Play in ELC' resource? Share how it impacted your practice and win a book bundle for your ELC or out of school care setting.

Background

In 2018 the Care Inspectorate and Zero Tolerance co-produced a Gender Equal Play practice resource promoting gender equality in early learning and childcare (ELC) & OSC. This resource aims to support good practice surrounding gender equal play/activities, interaction and environments and contribute to better outcomes for children in ELC and OSC settings in respect of gender equality and tackling stereotypes. The main target audience is childcare practitioners, although the resource is relevant to all professionals and organisations across the ELC & OSC sectors.

Purpose of the Project

Zero Tolerance & the Care Inspectorate are looking to build evidence of the work being done by early years & OSC practitioners around Scotland to support gender equality in early learning and childcare. They are gathering this information with the following aims:

• To raise awareness of this work across the early learning and childcare sectors
• To better understand how and where this work is happening
• To understand the benefits of this work
• To demonstrate the impact early years & OSC practitioners are making in respect of gender equality and tackling gender stereotypes
• To encourage further support for gender equal practice in the future

Further information:

https://www.zerotolerance.org.uk/gender-equal-play/

CONGRATULATIONS TO MACS- WINNERS OF 2021 GENERATIONS WORKING TOGETHER EXCELLENCE AWARD

MACS (Mearns After School Care Service) are proud to have won the 2021 Generations Working Together (GWT) Excellence Award, for 'Creative Ways to Connect After Covid' through their sustainable Forest Kindergarten training programme.

Mearns After School Care Service (MACS) is an out of school care organisation with 12 services caring for over 1500 children throughout the East Renfrewshire and Glasgow areas. During the first lock down Penny Anderson, Head of Centre and Human resources director achieved a diploma in intergenerational practice through Generations Working Together. Although MACS had already established intergenerational relationships with local care homes, Penny was able to share practice and collaborate with colleagues, including their forest kindergarten course leader to find creative ways to connect with communities after covid.

MACS Childcare Training Centre is one of the first training centres in Scotland to be awarded with an accreditation by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) to deliver the level 7 National Progression Award in Forest Kindergarten. This has enabled them to deliver this training to over 100 internal and external participants. Through their training programme they will continue to embed their intergenerational legacy.

MACS are delighted to have been recognised with this award and are looking forwards to continuing to foster a culture where all generations in all communities can come together to challenge stereotypes whilst enjoying playing outdoors.

For information on MACS' Forest Kindergarten or Intergenerational Training please contact training@macs.uk.com

Individual Training Account (ITA) funding is available for MACS' Forest Kindergarten training until 26th March 2021, (terms and conditions apply) please see link below:

https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/learn-and-train/sds-individual-training-accounts-ita

Please see the link below for the MACS award winner's video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR7j60C3xDw