Early Childhood and Extended Childcare Services
Choosing Childcare for Pre 5 children
Choosing childcare and early education is a big step for you and your child. There are lots of differences across the range of childcare, early education or pre-school services and also between individual childminders, nurseries, nursery classes or out of school clubs.
There are 126 Pre 5 establishments. Free part-time early years education places are available for all pre-school and ante pre-school year children.
Nursery Schools
These are stand alone establishments managed by head teachers and staffed by a Child Development Team Leader and Child Development Officers. Additional teachers may also be available in the larger nursery schools, in addition to the head teacher. They provide an educational service and parents needs are met by either having a part-time or full-time place within such an establishment. They normally operate from around 8.30am to 4.30pm on a school term basis. Wraparound care and lunch time cover may also be provided.
Nursery Classes
In Glasgow, Nursery Classes are located within primary schools and provide mainly part-day pre-school education provision for 3-5 year old children during the school year. The head teacher of the primary school is responsible for the nursery class, which is staffed by teachers and Child Development Officers.
Extended Daycare Establishments
(other titles include Day Nurseries, Children’s Centres, Community Nurseries, Early Years Centres, Family Learning Centres, Private Independent Nurseries etc)
These services provide education and also offer daycare for children from birth until school entry date and are open up to 52 weeks per year, mainly between the hours of 8.00am and 6.00pm. Nursery Centres are staffed by a Head of Centre, Depute Head of Centre, Child Development Team Leaders and Child Development Officers, 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 are provided in these centres which often have a flexibility to meet local needs. Places are offered for children on a full-day or part-day 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 organisations to provide a team of staff with equipment to supply crèche services on a variety of occasions.
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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.
Further advice and information contact:
Early Childhood & Extended Childcare Services
Wheatley House
25 Cochrane Street
Glasgow G1 1HL
Phone: 0141 287 7972 / 5223
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