Early learning and childcare: national induction resource

Appendix A

Leading Partner Resources

National resources to support your professional learning and development have also been produced by a range of professional bodies that support the sector.

SSSC

The SSSC hosts a learning zone which provides a wide range of free learning resources for ELC professionals. This includes the free suite of CPL modules, and National Directory of CPL. It also includes a learning app to help build your understanding of child development, with a mix of essential reference material, information and real world activities to support your practice. Another useful learning app focuses on observing and recording of children’s development. Both of these resources can be accessed via your phone or a tablet.

In addition, the SSSC has developed 23 Things Leadership, designed to help you engage in your own leadership development through bite-size pieces of learning and customise your learning experience according to your needs and interests.

The Care Inspectorate: The Hub

The Care Inspectorate Hub provides a 'one-stop-shop' access to a range of resources aimed at supporting improvement in the social care and social work sectors. This includes:

• A library of good practice guidance
• Information on the latest developments in policy and legislation
• Video based examples of innovative practice
• Toolkits and resources aimed at supporting improvement

There have been a number of resources produced by the Care Inspectorate to support effective practice in early learning and childcare settings. This includes: ‘My

World Outdoors’; ‘’Out to Play’ initial guidance plus 3 additional chapters; ‘Getting Ready to Read’; ‘Our Creative Journey’; ‘Space to Grow’; ‘Animal Magic’; ‘Food Matters’ and ‘Gender Equal Play in Early Learning and Childcare’ , and ‘My Active World’.

Education Scotland

Education Scotland is the Scottish Government executive agency that supports quality and improvement in Scottish education. The National Improvement Hub is a gateway to support resources, Curriculum for Excellence and examples of effective practice relating to early learning and childcare. It aims to support all ELC professionals, leaders and policy makers with an interest in, or responsibility for, early learning and childcare. This includes the national practice guidance for early years in Scotland; Realising the Ambition: Being Me (2020).

Early Years Scotland

Early Years Scotland (EYS) is a national Third Sector organisation that, as well as offering membership and direct services, offers a range of professional learning opportunities for members and non-members.

Our professional learning opportunities are designed to inspire, encourage, and support your practice and include both virtual and online professional learning opportunities as well as face to face opportunities that can be designed for your needs. Our online catalogue, which is regularly updated, includes self-study options, and collaborative courses. Regular virtual deliveries are offered to meet the professional learning needs of the wider sector across Scotland, and these are tailored to the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) profession, offering a shorter, focused input on a diverse range of topics. In addition to professional learning sessions in our Professional Learning suite in Glasgow we can also delivered sessions at a time and place to suit you, in-house in your setting or at a centrally organised venue. We also offer weekend and evening opportunities to meet your individual Professional Learning needs.

Details of all professional learning opportunities can be found on the EYS website within the EYS professional learning area. EYS members receive discounts on all professional learning with free sessions being offered periodically through the year. Attendance at all EYS Professional Learning opportunities can be recorded as CPL/ PRTL.

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is the UK’s national membership organisation for day nurseries. NDNA provide online, face to face and open training opportunities to members to support with professional learning and development. NDNA offer courses in business and management, early years best practice, safeguarding and child protection. There are also a range of course designed specifically for practice in Scotland.

Care and Learning Alliance (CALA)

Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) is the largest third sector childcare organisation in Highland and Moray. CALA offer a range of tutor facilitated virtual learning sessions, in addition to in-person professional learning opportunities across Scotland, in which course delivery can be tailored to meet specific needs as required. CALA learning and development host a suite of free to all or low cost e-modules including a suite of Child Protection and Healthy Eating related certificated courses. CALA’s Practitioner Portal web page is packed with sector related news and information.

In addition to the professional bodies that support the ELC sector, there are other organisations that provide relevant training. The national training directory mentioned above will help you to identify what is available in your area.