Early Learning and Childcare (Standards and Curriculum)

Early Learning and Childcare Settings must be registered with the Care Inspectorate and are inspected by them. 

All establishments providing pre-school education follow national curriculum guidelines and Education Scotland aim to inspect nurseries every six/seven years. 

Reports from both of these inspecting bodies can be found on the Education Scotland website and the Care Inspectorate website.

We are committed to providing quality services in our own nurseries and support funded provider settings meet these standards.

Early years curriculum

Our curriculum

Children, aged 3-5 years, attending South Lanarkshire Council’s Early Learning and Childcare settings, including our Funded Provider settings follow the Scottish Government’s Curriculum for Excellence, which focuses on the development of knowledge and skills and will support all children to reach their potential through a play based approach.

We aim to promote children’s achievements and life chances by nurturing successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

The development of literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing has been recognised as being vital in everyday life is the responsibility of all staff. All staff promote health and wellbeing to support the development of children’s confidence, independent thinking and positive attitudes.

Curriculum for Excellence recognises that learning goes beyond the nursery setting and therefore promotes close partnership working with families and communities. All settings support outdoor learning on a daily basis. This may be within the grounds of the nursery or wider afield within the community or woodland area.

Staff working with children aged 0-3 years follow the national guidance Realising the Ambition and our local guidance Together We Can and We Will. Both sets of guidance reflect the values, purpose and principles of Curriculum for Excellence.

We recognise the important role parents and carers have in their child’s development and where possible, routines and prior learning form home is built upon within each nursery.