Early Childhood and Extended Services
Choosing Childcare
Choosing early education and childcare is a big step for you and your child. There are lots of differences across the range of early years services and also between individual providers of services.
Advice
The Early Childhood and Extended Service Section within Education is responsible for the co-ordination of early education and childcare provision across the city. We can offer advice on a range of issues including:
The service also offers general advice to callers on how to choose the type of provision most suited to their needs and those of their children. However, no specific recommendations about individual services can be made.
Early Years Provision
Glasgow City Council provides a range of early years' service provision for children aged 0-5 years. We offer a flexible range of provision, varying from part-time to full time extended day services.
Link to full alphabetic List of Early Years Establishments
All our early years provision provide early education from 3 - 5 years and many have places for children under 3 years. All provide a broad and balanced curriculum and plan for children's learning using the experiences and outcomes within Curriculum for Excellence.
Glasgow City Council has a fully qualified workforce. All Child Development Officers have a minimum qualification of at least SVQ level 3/HNC/NNEB in Early Childhood Development.
An increasing number have already obtained their degree in Early Childhood Practice or are working towards it. All our heads of centre are degree qualified in either Early Childhood Practice or Primary Education.
Partnership Nurseries
In addition to the Glasgow City Council services provided, we also work in partnership with private and social economy sector early years services to extend parents' choice for pre-school education and childcare.
On 17 March 2011 Glasgow City Council undertook a corporate procurement process for the purpose of allocating Framework Contracts to Pre School Partner nurseries for the period August 2011 to June 2014.
We commission a fixed number of places from partner providers through framework contracts. You should contact the partnership nursery provider directly for information on the availability of funded places and details of their admission process.
Each year we will review the number of places commissioned to try to meet demand and continue to ensure flexibility and choice for parents and carers.
Créche Services
A number of crèche services are operated by voluntary sector organisations within Glasgow.
Childminding is home-based care where children are looked after in the childminder's own home. Childminders look after children of all ages, providing full or part-time daycare, as well as care around playgroup, nursery or school hours. Childminders offer a flexible daycare service, usually all year round. Childminders are required, by law, to be registered with Care Inspectorate.
Registered childminders provide care and education together as one service for young children in a family setting. Such settings can offer security, comfort, protection, individual attention, safety and nurturing. Childminders are self-employed and negotiate terms and conditions with the individual parent or guardian.
Out of School Care Services
Out of School Care Services offer care for school-age children before and after school until their parents collect them. Some Out of School Care Services offer daycare during school holiday periods and in-service days.
Contact details for all childcare services are available by calling:
0141 287 4702 - or from the Scottish Childcare web site.
Further advice and information contact:
Early Childhood & Extended Services
Centenary House
100 Morrison Street
Glasgow G5 8LN
Phone: 0141 287 4702
Contact Us - online enquiries
Links:
Child Protection