SOSCN Networking Events

Late last year, SOSCN hosted a series of local networking events across Scotland under the theme “Let’s Get Together to Talk About School Age Childcare.” These sessions were designed to bring people from across the sector together to share ideas, discuss challenges, and connect with colleagues they might not usually meet.

Our CEO, Audrey Anderson, and Practice and Training Officer, Patrick Morrison, took to the road, visiting Irvine, Stirling, Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Glasgow. Attendance ranged from small, intimate groups to bustling halls.

At these events we also shared information on Healthy Eating in Schools guidance and its impact on services operating on school premises, encouraging all to attend HMIE’s webinar on 8th December, hosted specifically for the school age childcare sector. You can check out useful resources here:

• HNI flowchart (updated)
• F and D standards at a glance HMIE
• Buying Guide Aldi
• Buying Guide Asda
• Buying Guide Tesco

We also held a live inspection round-up, focusing on Medication Management. You can grab a copy of our 9-point medication management checklist from our website.

Last month, we also held an online networking event looking specifically at the Scottish Government and Care Inspectorate joint feasibility study that looks at a new definition for school age childcare. We were delighted to see almost one hundred participants for this event. You can access the report here: https://soscn.org/downloads/reports/soscn-membership-event-feb-2026-report.pdf

New networking opportunities this month

We are delighted to now offer the opportunity for you to attend one of our forthcoming networking events that aim to provide substantial opportunity for discussion amongst participants. We will soon be hosting Members Networking Events this March is Stirling, Dundee, Glasgow East, Edinburgh, Highlands and Rural (online), South Scotland (online), and Glasgow West.

We are at an important moment for the future of our sector. As work continues on developing a new definition in law of school-age childcare, it’s vital that the voices of those delivering services are at the heart of the discussion.

We want our members to help shape a definition that supports the vital work you do and the long-term sustainability of services. Join us at one of our local networking meetings for a focused, in-depth discussion on what a future definition should look like, as we work together to build sector-wide consensus.

For further information and how to book, and how to get your unique code for your free place, please see this link: https://soscn.org/events/networking-march-2026

Your chance to shape the future of School Age Childcare

The Scottish Government consultation 'School age childcare: a new legal definition' is now open for responses. This consultation is seeking views and information that will support work to explore potential changes to the regulation of school age childcare services by creating a new legal definition for school age childcare. It is vital that as many services as possible respond. The more voices represented, the stronger our influence will be.

Complete the consultation here: https://consult.gov.scot/children-and-families/school-age-childcare-new-legal-definition/

Two new Bitesize Training modules

It has been great to see our members using our new bitesize training modules that come with all our paid-for memberships. We have recently added two new modules, Importance of Play, and Child Protection: Recognising Signs of Abuse. We also have modules in Induction Training, Dynamic Risk-Benefit Assessing, Infection Prevention and Control, and Food Safety. Look out for two more modules coming soon. Find out more on our website.

Inspection Round-up

In case you missed it, we recently published our latest Inspection Round-up. This round-up analysed 10 graded inspection reports from school age childcare services available on the Care Inspectorate's website on 16th February 2026. The dates of inspections ranged from November 2025 to January 2026. You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg0o11nSmuA

You can also read the more in-depth report, as well as all the latest round-ups, on our website here: https://soscn.org/inspection-round-up/inspection-round-up-feb-2026

Care Inspectorate

The Care Inspectorate have a new resource, Reducing restrictive practice: A practice note to promote children’s rights, safety and wellbeing.

This resource aims to:

• Support staff in upholding children’s rights.
• Provide clear definitions of restraint and restrictive practice.
• Promote person-centred care that leads to the reduction of restrictive practices
• Ensure that any restrictive practice used is justifiable, reasonable and proportionate.
• Help staff support children, families and staff when restrictive practice has been used.

Disclosure Scotland

From 1 April 2026, applications made to the PVG scheme will move individuals over to a five-year membership, ending their lifetime membership. Those who do not make an application will be moved to a five-year membership by Disclosure Scotland. You do not need to do anything, and they will contact scheme members before they intend to move you.

Disclosure Scotland have also recently introduced a new self-service tool designed to make it quicker and easier for organisations to manage their interest in PVG scheme members. The new feature lets counter signatories (CSGs) remove individuals their organisation no longer needs to monitor - either one-by-one or in bulk. You can read the full article on their website.