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SOSCN Professional Development Book Club - First Book
Personal Plan Toolkit
Everything you need to create personal plans within your service
Medication Management Toolkit
Medication storage, administration and record keeping
Experiences for Older Children
This month's practice focus area is experiences for older children
Service Environment
This month's practice focus area is Service Environment
Dec 2024
Winter edition with updates from Care Inspectorate, SSSC, Members Stories, and more
Professional Development Book Club
Join up with your colleagues in the school age childcare sector from across the country, to read, learn, network and develop
Happy Playday 2024- the culture of childhood!
SOSCN is a committed play champion. This year's theme is Play- the culture of childhood. Supporting play, fun and friendships
Muthill Kiddy Club
We took a trip to visit the children, parents and staff at Muthill Kiddy Club in Perthshire, to learn more about what it’s like at a rural service
Workforce Survey 2024
The SOSCN School Age Childcare Workforce survey 2024 is now live
Key UK Budget announcements October 2024
National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage, and National Insurance Contributions
Season's Greetings
We hope you enjoy the holidays and wish you all the best for 2025
children's guide
SOSCN Children's Guide to Out of School Care and your 20 questions play book
information
Information for service providers and practitioners
Impact Assessments
Information and a sample impact assessment form
Factsheets
download information PDFs here
sick pay
Pensions
Guidance on pay rates
Adverse Weather and Extreme Temperature
video (DVD) licences
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
anti-bullying guidance
STEM in OSC
Information on STEM in school age childcare and SOSCN previous work in the area
Physical Activity in OSC
We are committed to encouraging physical activity and active play both indoors and outdoors at school age childcare services
Essential Guidance For School Age Childcare Services
Documents and guidance most relevance currently to registered school age childcare services
Business Support
It is vital that in addition to expert childcare knowledge, services need to have good business knowledge
Play
Article 31 of the UNCRC states that children have a right to culture, leisure, rest and play
funding
Information for funding opportunities for services
Financial Support to Parents
Understanding Financial Support to Parents to Pay for Childcare
Wellbeing in OSC
GIRFEC, SHANARRI, professional responsibility and more
management
different management structures for school age childcare servicves
regulation
Registration requirements for school age childcare in Scotland, including information on Scottish Social Services Council, Care Inspectorate and PVG Scheme
SSSC
Regulation of the out of school care workforce
Care Inspectorate
Regulation and inspection of out of school care services
PVG Scheme
Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme<
BLOG
Thought and opinions from SOSCN staff and other colleagues
2023
June
Limited or Lack of Local School Age Childcare
This survey addressed the issue of whether parents and carers have access to sufficient school age childcare to meet their needs
March
SOSCN's letter to First Minister Candidates
We have sent a letter to each of the three candidates for First Minister
January
Children's safeguarding at risk in unregulated out of school settings in England
The UK Government Department for Education published a report in November 2022 which has raised serious concerns about the safety and wellbeing of the millions of children in England who attend out of school settings
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
OSC A to Z
A comprehensive list of information about school age childcare
A - B
accessibility
Services should be as far as possible, accessible to all families and children in their community
accidents and emergencies
Every service will have accident and emergency procedures in place and a method of recording information on anything that happens to children while in the care of the service
additional support needs
Services should do their utmost to be inclusive of children with additional support needs, including children with sensory or physical disabilities, or with a range of learning difficulties
allergies
It is very important that services are informed of any allergies a child has as well as any medication they require
anti-bullying
Anti-bullying Policy Guidance
attainment
Children learn informally through good quality play and social interactions in out of school care
behaviour rules
In general SOSCN advocates a promoting positive behaviour approach which ensures children receive attention for good behaviour
Ch - Co
childcare tax credits
Parents and carers who work and pay for childcare may be able to get extra tax credits to help with childcare costs
childcare vouchers
Employee voucher schemes are being phased out except for those who have already joined.
child protection
As a parent or carer, volunteer or member of staff in a service, the need to ensure children are protected is fundamental
children's charter
Every Out of School Care Service should have its own Children's Charter
children's participation - UNCRC
Links for UNCRC
codes of conduct
All staff members employed in out of school care have to be registered with the SSSC, unless they are already registered with another equivalent regulatory body
consent
Services must seek parental/carer consent for children to have their photographs taken and to clearly state what these purposes may be used for
Co - G
contracts, costs, fees and cancellations
It often comes as a surprise to many parents that their local out of school service or holiday care service is not a statutory service run by their local council
creativity
Creativity and opportunities for self-expression are key
Data Protection
The Data Protection Act controls how your personal information is used. Everyone has to follow rules called data protection principles
equality and diversity
Parents, children and staff involved in an out of school care service should expect that the service has a clear equality policy and is inclusive of local communities
First-Aid Training
The Care Inspectorate and the SSSC require that staff are appropriately trained to do their role
food choices
Information on the Health and Social Care Standards and food
Getting it Right
Links for GIRFEC
H - J
health and safety and insurance
Information on infection control; safety of equipment and food preparation, transport and escorting children to and from school, or on outings
homework
Out of school care is not a homework club or extracurricular club, provided by the school
illness, infection and medication
Information on illness, medication and more
Induction
All new children attending an out of school care service should be supported in their transition into the service
introduction
Jargon Buster
Find out what the terms mean
Just A...
Childcare workers are carers, role models, teachers, counsellors and many other roles, who will consistently support children and families over a number of years
K - Pa
Kids' Club
This term is more often used in England and Wales to describe an out of school care or after school or holiday club
Learning
Children learn in after school care through a wide range of physical activities indoors and outdoors, mental challenges and creative experiences
Lone Parents
Lone parents are often those who are most in need of out of school care, especially if they are living and working away from family network
Moving and Handling
Every service, especially those including children with disabilities, will have a policy on moving and handling children
Nature
A good quality service will give children daily access to natural pursuits, including exploring outdoors and growing plants amongst other activities
Outdoor Play
The benefits of outdoor play are recognised but there is a concern that today's children are becoming more accustomed to indoor activities rather than playing out
parental rights and involvement
Information for parents and carers about rights and getting involved
Pe - T
Personal Plans
Services are legally required to keep up-to-date records of children in their care which must be reviewed on a 6-monthly basis
Play
Article 31 of the UNCRC states that children have a right to culture, leisure, rest and play- play is a fundamental right for children
play and risk
Parents and the professional play and care staff in out of school care have to get the balance right for children and young people in terms of play and risk
Quality in OSC
Ensuring ongoing quality experiences should be at the heart of all services and embedded in all aspects of the service from delivery to administration
Risk and Challenge
Information for taking a positive approach to risk in order to achieve the best outcomes for children
social media and mobile phones
OSC services should have a comprehensive social media policy
trips and outings
Things to consider for trips and outings
U - Z
United Nations
Links for the United Nations
volunteers
Information on volunteering in services
workforce
Workforce considerations
X-Boxes and Screens
There is growing concern in academia and the media about the negative impact pro-longed screen time can have on children and young people
Young Adults
Services can provide care for young people up to age 16 or even 18, if they have a disability, although the majority of services provide care for children attending primary school
Zero Tolerance
Zero Tolerance is acharity working to end men's violence against women by promoting gender equality and challenging attitudes which normalise violence and abuse
Professional Development Book Club

At SOSCN, we are now running online book club that our school age childcare service members can take part in.

The idea is that colleagues from all around the country read the same book (or chapters/sections) that will encourage continued professional development. We then meet online via Zoom to share our opinions on the subjects and content of the book, creating discussion with our fellow professionals and learning opportunities.

Doing this as a group will hopefully help keep us motivated to read, create a platform to share ideas and opinions, and network with colleagues in different parts of the country.

Books (or research papers, guidance documents, etc) will focus on subjects that could help our professional development. For example, subjects can include; play, behavioural management, trauma, child development, etc.

Based on consultation with our members, the following was decided:

How to join

Please see our Eventbrite Page to see if there are any upcoming meetings: SOSCN Eventbrite

FAQs

We have some frequently asked questions (FAQs) below, but if there is anything else you’d like to know, please email patrick@soscn.org

Where can I find this book?

You should be able to find this book (or request it) at your local or educational establishment library, or find it to purchase online and in stores. Second hand copies can be found on popular second-hand marketplaces, and e-reader versions are available too.

What do you I to do to prepare?

Simply grab a copy of the book and read it. Whilst reading it, note down any points or pages that resonate with you, that you can then bring to the group discussion.

Prior to the meeting, you will be emailed with a prompt to share your discussion points to help us organise the group discussion.

Who is the book club for?

The SOSCN Professional Development Book Club is for members of the Scottish Out of School Care Network that work in the school age childcare sector. Whether you are a volunteer, support worker, practitioner or manager, workers from all levels are welcome.

What will happen at the meeting?

The meeting will be online via Zoom. Details for accessing the Zoom meeting will be sent the week before the meeting.

At the meeting, we will have a discussion about the book. Depending on numbers, we might discuss as a whole group, in smaller breakout groups, or a mix of both.

The book club is new for us, and we want you to help shape it to make sure it is useful for you.

The whole point of the book club is to learn, consider different ways of doing things, encourage reflection on our own practice, and think about if we can use any of our learning to develop practice. For some, it might even be reassuring that you are doing good things already.

Whatever you take from it, we know that our members find it really valuable when you have the chance to speak, discuss and network with colleagues from around the country that you don't get the chance to speak with everyday.

When will we vote for the next book to read?

We will email our members when the next vote is open, with the option of 4 books/papers/documents to choose from based on subjects our members have recommended.

From time to time, we may have special editions of the book club, focusing on recently published guidance document, for example. Notifications for these will go out through our membership emails, and also through our Eventbrite page, you can follow us on Eventbrite here: SOSCN Eventbrite

Professional Development Book Club
Join up with your colleagues in the school age childcare sector from across the country, to read, learn, network and develop
Quality Improvement Framework for Early Learning and Childcare Sectors
Join this online session to hear more about the new Quality Improvement Framework for Early Learning and Childcare
Managing Distressed Behaviour with Trauma Informed Practice
In-person Training considering the impact of trauma and ACEs, and how to approach distressing behaviours with an empathetic and compassionate approach
previous events
Archive of our previous events
SOSCN Conference 2024
Reaching Out! Growing your community presence. Wednesday 18th September 2024 - FULLY BOOKED
Induction Training
In-person training this August looking at the important knowledge and skills required to help new staff to school age childcare hit the ground running
Support to Pay for Childcare
Find out what support is available to parents to pay for childcare, and what other benefits they may be entitled to.
Online Membership Catch-up
Grab a cuppa and join us for a catch-up. An opportunity to hear what we have been up to and our plans for the coming months
Building Resilience Event
This June, SOSCN will be hosting a training session on Building resilience through active play and sport
Jim Taylor Knows Autism - Session 2
Supporting transitions in School Age Childcare for children with autism
In-Person Play Training
An understanding of play for members of staff and volunteers who may have recently joined the school age childcare sector
COVID-19 Inquiry Discussion
Share your experiences of the pandemic with Let's Be Heard
Safer Staffing
Are you ready for the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act?
Autism Learning Session
A more contemporary understanding of the learning styles and presentation of autistic children can have a positive impact in all settings
Local Networking
Networking Events
What it Takes
Training Event
Teaching Stem in OSC
Training Event
Staying Out
Training Event
Skills Development Funding
Training event
Shaping the Framework
Training event
Seeing the Whole Child
Training event
Seeing the Potential
Training event
Scottish Government School Age Childcare Update
Information event
A Register for the Future
SSSC training events
SOSCN Regional Events
Have your say on the OSC draft consultation
International Learning Session
Training event
OSC Practice during COVID
An Online Conversation event
Not just a dream
Training event
Networking Opportunity
Networking training events
SOSCN Members Online Network Meetings - October
Networking training events
Networking Meetings - May and June 2021
Networking training events
Networking Meetings
Networking training events
Getting Help with Childcare Costs
Funding for services training event
Getting it Right for Business
Business training event
Get Ready for Summer
Get ready for summer training event
Delivering a Playful and Active Summer 2021
training event
SSSC Codes of Practice Conversation
Codes of Practice consultation event
Celebrating Out of School Care
National Conference
Care Inspectorate Update and 'Q and A' Session
Regulation training event
Back to basics- financial planning in OSC
Financial planning training event
Activity and Wellbeing 29/11/2022
Activity and Wellbeing training event
Access to Childcare Fund
Access to childcare fund learning event
Back to Basics