Failing Childcare Services in Scotland

In today's Glasgow Herald 3 articles focus on the Care Commission's failure to close failing childcare services; mostly the focus is on all-day care nurseries and childminders, although one out of school care is mentioned.

Failing childcare services in Scotland - Glasgow Herald (6/01/2011)

In response to these articles SOSCN would like to make it clear that we believe that it is the right of every child to access quality childcare, and out of school care in particular, and that it is the responsibility of childcare and support staff to ensure that this is achieved. The safety, health and well-being of children is the first and main concern of any childcare service.

SOSCN is not a provider of childcare but we are committed to supporting the development and sustainability of high quality out of school care through appropriate staff qualifications, training and Aiming High Scotland, our quality assurance scheme for out of school care services.

SOSCN believes services which are categorised by the Care Commission as being "weak or unsatisfactory" across the board and which do not demonstrate an immediate improvement should be closed temporarily until such improvements are met, or closed permanently if they are not. Children and young people should not be put at risk. Parents and carers need to have confidence that the care in which they are leaving their children is a safe and positive environment.

Although quality is not necessarily dependent on financial resources it is key to accessing qualifications, training, improvements to premises etc and quality assurance schemes.

Once again we highlight the need for financial resources to be committed from national and local government to out of school care services staff to gain the appropriate qualifications as required by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and access appropriate and ongoing training. Additional financial support should also be available to help sustain vulnerable services in areas of economic deprivation, rural areas and services providing care for children with additional support needs.