How to use this page to improve practice?
When using this page, please consider the following reflective questions:
- What is my understanding of the current ELC policy and guidance landscape?
- How do I use self-evaluation, research and evidence to inform and improve my practice?
Self-evaluation approach
- How good is our early learning and childcare? (2016) provides a suite of quality indicators. These support staff to look inwards; to scrutinise their work and evaluate what is working well for babies, toddlers and young children, and what could be better. The framework is designed to be used to support self-evaluation for self-improvement by practitioners at all levels.
Key Documents
- The Early Years Framework (2008) sets out a vision for early years services in Scotland to ensure that children get ‘the best start in life’.
- Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) builds on the solid foundations developed in the critical years pre-birth to three. Within CfE, children are entitled to a broad general education from age three until the end of S3. The early level of CfE for most children spans the period of time from age three until the end of Primary 1. It supports a smooth transition in learning between ELC and primary school.
- Realising the Ambition: Being Me (2020) is the new national practice guidance for early years in Scotland. It builds upon the original principles and philosophy of Pre-Birth to 3 and Building the Ambition. It covers children’s learning and development from birth into the early years of primary school.
Practical support and resources on the National Improvement Hub
Resources on the National Improvement Hub (NIH) are tagged by subject. This includes an ELC subject tag. Searching live on the NIH ensures you are checking the most up-to-date list of ELC resources. The following resources on the NIH may be of interest to ELC practitioners and leaders.
Curricular approaches
Creativity infographics
Development of creativity through play at Ballogie Nursery
Permission to be creative - Brian Boyd
Science across the school - early level at Strathallan Primary
STEM practice at Sunflower Family Nurture Centre
Inclusion and equality
Gaelic Medium Education
Advice on Gaelic Education
Advice on Total Immersion and ELC
Expansion of free learning and childcare, 1140 hours and GME Foundation Apprenticeships for childcare - Improving the Gaelic Medium Curriculum
Quality and Improvement in Scottish Education, 2012-2016
Blog accompanying Quality and Improvement in Scottish Education, 2012-2016
A’ cur taic ris an Ìre Thràth ann am Foghlam Tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig / Supporting the Early Years in Gaelic Medium Education
Briefings on Gaelic Education/Fiosrachadh mun Ghàidhlig
Gaelic Medium Education 3-18 - A case study from Sir E Scott School
Dè cho math 's a tha ar tràth-ionnsachadh agus curam chloinne? / How good is our early learning and childcare?
Health and wellbeing
Developing nurturing relationships in Early Years in Dundee
Language and literacy development
Talking and listening across the four learning contexts
Talking, listening and questions
Leadership
How Woodside Nursery School has developed partnerships to support children’s learning
Pedagogical Leadership in Early Learning and Childcare
Learning environments
Block Play – Block Building in the Early Years
Development of creativity through play at Ballogie Nursery
Effective environments to promote learning for children aged zero to five
Inspiring environments for high-quality learning
Observation, planning and assessment
Children's learning journeys at Monkton Primary School Nursery Class
Effective observation leading to effective assessment
Planning learning at Auchlone Nature Kindergarten
Outdoor learning
Get the Bairns Oot! An outdoor kindergarten in Norway
Managing Risk in Outdoor Learning
Planning learning at Auchlone Nature Kindergarten
Playtime Revolution – a resource from Grounds for Learning
Forest Kindergarten Approach – Learning Outdoors With Confidence
Parental engagement and family learning
Engaging with families
Evidencing change in fathers participating family learning groups
How staff involve parents in their children’s learning - Ladybird Nursery School
Learning at home with science boxes - West Kilbride Primary School
Using ‘App’ technology to improve parental engagement in Dundee
Pedagogy
Block Play – Block Building in the Early Years
Children's learning journeys at Monkton Primary School Nursery Class
Creativity - Dylan Wiliam
Development of creativity through play at Ballogie Nursery
Pedagogical Leadership in Early Learning and Childcare
Playtime Revolution – a resource from Grounds for Learning
Schematic play - Taking a closer look
Talking, listening and question
The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Years Education
Play
Development of creativity through play at Ballogie Nursery
Pedagogical Leadership in Early Learning and Childcare
Playtime Revolution – a resource from Grounds for Learning
Schematic play - Taking a closer look
Practice exemplars
Building the Ambition at Cowgate Under 5s Centre
Children's learning journeys at Monkton Primary School Nursery Class
Cowcaddens Nursery - eTwinning Project Report
Developing nurturing relationships in Early Years in Dundee
Effective environments to promote learning for children aged zero to five
Evidencing change in fathers participating family learning groups
How staff involve parents in their children’s learning - Ladybird Nursery School
How Woodside Nursery School has developed partnerships to support children’s learning
Learning at home with science boxes - West Kilbride Primary School
Science across the school - early level at Strathallan Primary
Scottish attainment challenge
Early Learning and Childcare and the Scottish Attainment Challenge
Transitions
Scottish Early Childhood and Families National Transitions Statement
Cadder Primary School early years transition project
The Lighthouse Keeper joint transition project
Using play based learning to support transition from ELC to Primary 1
