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2023
June
Limited or Lack of Local School Age Childcare
March
SOSCN's letter to First Minister Candidates
January
Children's safeguarding at risk in unregulated out of school settings in England
2022
December
Staying Safe and Professional Online as a Social Care Worker
November
Reconnecting - to care for others you need to care for yourself
Access to Childcare Fund - The Learning So Far
September
It's good to chat - SSSC Codes of Practice Conversation
Having a ball in the holidays
August
Superheroes are real- they work in school age childcare
March
A time for change- reflection on the 2021 OSC Workforce Survey Results
2021
August
Stories of Summer 2021
April
Scottish Parliament Election Manifesto Overview 2021
March
The longest year- a reflection
February
The Finnish way to a happier childhood - Putting Children First
2020
November
Reflections on the Week
September
Re-opening services - keeping your staff onside!
Low pay and limited hours are push and pull factors which create a churn in the Out of School Care Workforce
April
Reflections on our journey and the way ahead
March
Coronavirus Covid-19 Potential Impact on Out of School Care, Breakfast and Holiday Clubs
Coronavirus Covid-19 Information Update Monday 2nd March 2020
February
Promising Children - a brief overview of the Care Review
2019
November
OSC draft framework consultation- the time to have your say is now!
Working to live or struggling to get by? Why the Real Living Wage is important.
October
Welcome proposal for free holiday childcare
Giving Parents and Children a say in the Framework for Out of School Care
Out of School Care in Scotland Continues to Grow
April
Success for our STEM Champions in Out of School Care
OSC Workforce - Most Recent Scottish Social Services Council Statistics
Training Opportunities for Out of School Care services- a selection of what's available
March
Supporting OSC Across the Country
February
Recent International policy and research briefing for members February 2019
Equal play? Does your service support or challenge gender stereotypes and roles?
CHANGE Project and T.I.C.T.A.C.S. - low cost quality template test of change
2018
August
Animal Magic- animals in care settings and children in animal settings...
July
Top free foody activities you can do over the summer break
March
Out of School Care - believing that children matter
Animal Magic- animals in care settings and children in animal settings...

The Care Inspectorate have recently published the document 'Animal Magic. The benefits of being around and caring for animals across care settings'. The document highlights:

“...the ways many people get the most out of life by being around or caring for animals and pets... Animal Magic gives examples of animals enhancing the quality of life of children and adults. People experiencing care have told us that being around animals helps them relax, provides companionship, enhances their relationships, gives them a positive focus to their lives, encourages them to be active and makes them feel happier... Contact with animals can also enhance relationships with their families, their friends and with care professionals.” (p 4)

The benefit to children and additional support needs is also highlighted:

“It can be easier to build up a relationship with an animal than a person. There is warmth, affection and trust.” (p 5)

The document provides examples of care settings where children and adults being cared for come into close contact with animals, including: trainee guide dogs in a nursery; a childminder who is based on a farm; and, inter-generational work between a nursery and adult care home where animals bring the generations together.

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Although there is no out of school care example in the document, back in June SOSCN visited a recently opened out of school care service in Aberdeen which is based within a petting zoo and park. Yes, you heard correctly: a petting zoo and park!

Hazelhead Trailblazerz

Hazelhead Trailblazerz is located in Hazelhead Park in Aberdeen, run by Community Link Childcare (CliCC), and has only been open since May this year. CliCC is a local charity which run several out of school care and holiday services across the city. The park and petting zoo are owned and managed by Aberdeen City Council who have enthusiastically supported the development and opening of the service.

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The out of school care has access to toilets and indoor space at the petting zoo and aquarium- the education room (which becomes the out of school care room) looks onto the meerkats and giant tortoise enclosure. Some exotic pets for the service!

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Outside the children are able to access the green space and play equipment. The plan is that for most of the time children will be based outdoors- this was easy during the great summer weather but may prove a bit more challenging in the dark winter nights. However, there are always the animals to care for...

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We watch with interest to see how the service develops and we shall look at ways of spreading this model of outdoor delivery in other urban settings across Scotland.

'Animal Magic':
http://www.careinspectorate.com/images/documents/4476/Animal%20Magic_2018.pdf
Community Link Childcare
http://www.communitylinkchildcare.org.uk
Pensions
SOSCN Professional Development Book Club - First Book
Social Care: Independent Review of Inspection, Scrutiny and Regulation in Scotland - call for evidence
Communication and Engagement with Parents and Carers
National Outcomes Review 2023
Inquiry into Child Poverty and Parental Employment
Adverse Weather and Extreme Temperature
Dec 2023
A Quality Framework for Early Learning and Childcare, School Aged Childcare and Childminding Services
Mar 2024