Early Childhood and Extended Services
***************
EARLY YEARS CHARGING - FAQs
A list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)has been compiled in relation to the new Admission Policy/Fees & Charges
If your query is not covered within the list of Frequently Asked Questions, you should contact the Children and Young People Support Team on 0141 287 4702.
***************
Choosing Childcare for Early Years children
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 childminders, nursery schools, nursery classes or extended day services.
Advice
Early Years and Extended Childcare Services operates a "one-stop shop" approach towards the co-ordination of childcare provision across the city. The unit supplies up-to-date and accurate information on childcare providers within the city. You can get advice on a range of issues:
The service offers 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 can be made.
**************************************
There are 116 Early Years Establishments run by Glasgow City Council. Free part-time early years education and childcare places are available for all 3 year old and 4 year old children. There are also full-time places in some establishments which incur an additional cost.
Nursery Schools
These are establishments which are managed by a Headteacher and a Child Development Team Leader – the rest of the team is made up of Child Development Officers, Pupil Support Assistants and possibly additional staffing to support children who have English as an additional language. These schools provide an education and childcare service either on a part-time or full-time basis – lunches are provided for children who attend on a full-time basis. They normally operate from around 8.30am to 4.30pm on a school term basis. Other services such as an information service and breakfast club may also be available.
Nursery Classes
In Glasgow a primary school may have a nursery class, which provides an education and childcare service for 3 to 5 year old children during the school year. The Headteacher of the primary school is responsible for the management of the nursery class, which is staffed by a teacher and child development officers, there may also be additional staff who will provide expertise in other areas.
Extended Daycare Establishments
(other titles include Day Nurseries, Children’s Centres, Community Nurseries, Early Years Centres, Family Learning Centres etc).
These services provide an education and childcare service for children usually from birth until school entry date and are open up to 52 weeks of the year between the hours of 8.00am and 6.00pm. Extended Day Establishments are staffed by a Head of Centre, Depute Head of Centre, Child Development Team Leaders and Child Development Officers, Pupil Support Assistants, there may also be additional staff who provide expertise in specific areas - the numbers of staff are determined by the role of the establishment. A variety of support services such as Out of School Care and information advice services may be provided in these establishments. Places are offered for children mainly on a full-day basis and occasionally on a part-time basis.
Crèches
This is a term that is used flexibly. Crèches may provide short-term “drop-in” care for children such as is provided for an hour or two when parents are shopping or attending a meeting or a further education class. Other “crèches” provide full daycare, perhaps established on an ad hoc basis; for example at special events such as conferences or fetes; these must be registered if they operate more than six times per year.
Mobile Crèches have been established by some organizations to provide a team of staff with equipment to supply crèche services on a variety of occasions.
Mobile Crèches have been established by some organisations to provide a team of staff with equipment to supply crèche services on a variety of occasions.
back to top
Childminders
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 the year round. Childminding is home-based care where children are looked after in the childminder’s own home.
Registered childminders provide care and education together as one service for young children in a family setting. Such setting offers 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.
Partnership Nurseries
Glasgow City Council works in partnership with a number of early years establishments both in the private and in the voluntary sector. These establishments must fulfill certain requirements in order to be granted partnership, for example, deliver a curriculum appropriate to the age of the child – 0 to 3 Curriculum and the Curriculum Framework for children 3 to 5 years – and have a number of policies including curricular policies and a Child Protection Policy. Partner establishments are inspected on a regular basis by HMI and Care Commission and these reports are published. Glasgow wishes to continue and improve these partnership arrangements. All partner early years establishments should have a quality framework that supports self evaluation using ‘Child at the Centre’ and which leads to continuous improvement.
Further advice and information contact:
Early Childhood & Extended Services
Centenary House
100 Morrison Street
Glasgow G5 8LN
Phone: 0141 287 5223/7065
Contact Us - online enquiries
Links:
Child Protection