The new international award – the first of its kind to include spaces for those aged from 0 up to 18 years – follows the success of the initial ‘Making Space' award for children aged 0-10 years, held in 2005.

‘Making Space 2010’ will again involve Children in Scotland working in partnership with the Scottish Government, and the OECD’s Centre for Effective Learning Environments (CELE) to further explore the design agenda, with Scotland playing host to a two-day conference and the international award, which will showcase Scotland as a centre for design innovation.

The ‘Making Space 2010’ award will invite entries from across the globe, which represent visionary buildings, places or spaces for children or young people aged 0-18 inclusive, which could be indoors or in the open air; from schools, out of school services, family centres and community resources, to playgrounds and bus shelters. With submissions invited from those who designed the spaces, as well as from those who work in and use them, the award will allow architects, designers, structural engineers, urban designers, landscape designers, teachers, educators, community groups, and children and young people themselves the chance to promote a space that they are particularly proud of.

Entries from out of school care services are particularly welcomed and encouraged.

The ‘Making Space 2010’ programme will culminate with an award dinner, and international conference, on 7-8 October 2010, incorporating two days of presentations and study visits across Scotland, alongside presentations from architects, academics and practitioners from Scotland, Europe and across the world. As well as encouraging debate and discussion on promoting innovative design, which is a key aspiration of Scotland’s new school estate strategy, Building Better Schools: Investing in Scotland’s Future, the programme will allow architects, planners and those working with young people in a variety of settings to share ideas and challenge conventional architectural approaches, and allow the sharing of best practice on an international scale.

The closing date for entries is 8 August 2010. The judging panel for the ‘Making Space 2010’ award will include internationally renowned architects and educators and will be chaired by the Director of Glasgow School of Art, Seona Reid.

For further information: www.childreninscotland.org.uk/makingspace

Two-tier charging policy based on childcare tax credits (04/03/2010)

It was recently brought to our attention that some services might be operating a two-tier fee system which sets a higher fee rate for those parents receiving childcare tax credits than those not receiving anything. Having contacted the Inland Revenue for further information, SOSCN has been informed that this is potentially fraudulent as services could be seen to be defrauding the government for additional money over and above the standard fee rate; this could lead to prosecution.

Childcare tax credits are the government’s way of subsidising parents on lower income to meet standard childcare costs- services cannot charge higher fees to those parents receiving childcare tax credits than those not receiving tax credits. If a service wishes to operate a variable fee structure, then it must be the service which subsidises and supports this, not the government, and it should not be based on whether parents receive childcare tax credits. (SOSCN would also caution against basing any pricing structure on whether parents receive childcare vouchers as well.)

SOSCN recommends that any service operating such a two-tiered system based upon childcare tax credits stop immediately.

If a service wishes to operate a differing fee structure by offering slight discounts to full-time users, families with 2 or 3 children attending, parents paying by direct debit etc, then it is the service which must cross-subsidise and support this. In general SOSCN would advise against a discount system but should a service decide to operate one then we would only recommend that clubs in a financially sustainable position do so.

School's Estate Strategy (21/01/2010)

In September 2009 the Scottish Government published a school’s estate strategy document relating to use and development of all schools, new-build and old. The document discusses such things as improving the physical environment inside and out, and maximising usage of premises by the community as a whole and not just the school community. Whilst out of school care is not explicitly mentioned, the inclusion of out of school care services within school is implicit throughout the entire document.

SOSCN has extracted passages with the greatest relevance supporting the inclusion and location of out of school care services within schools; we have highlighted the most relevant passages in bold.

Download: School's estate strategy - info for OSC [SOSCN] (.pdf)

Download: Scottish Government's School's Estate strategy document (.pdf)

SOSCN's OSC Workforce Survey 2009 (21/07/09)

Returns Statistics:
117 were from Lead Practitioners, 165 from Practitioners and 93 from Support Workers. 347 females and 26 males responded.

9 (3%) have a registered disability and 15 (4%) described their ethnicity as being something other than “White/Scottish/English/British-white/Scottish-white”.

46% returns were from the voluntary sector, 29% from the private, 10% from the public and 7% unknown.

[2008 results contained in square brackets.]

3.1 Lead Practitioner Profile
The “average” lead practitioner is 50 years old, employed for 28 [26] hours (term-time) and 34 [31] hours (holiday-time), earning £10.22 [£8.93] per hour and has been employed in out of school care for 9 [8] years.

70% are currently registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

91% [85%] see out of school care as a career, 98% [95%] are either very or fairly satisfied with their job.

39% [10%] are qualified to SVQ 4 and 17% [36%] are working towards it. 2% are qualified to BA degree level and 12% are working towards it. 32% are paid for additional training/study and the average number of additional hours per month taken for study is 21.

Regards the Level 9 qualification, 25% think it should be a requirement from 2011, 68% think it should be later than 2011 and 7% provided no response.

36% of lead practitioners require/would like more hours in their job. 29% have a secondary job; of this figure, 68% have another childcare job. The average number of additional hours per week in the secondary childcare job is 14 and the average pay is £7.98

3.2 Practitioner Profile
It was found that the “average” practitioner is 33 years old, employed for 20 [18] hours (term-time) and 26 [26] hours (holiday-time), earning £7.38 [£6.63] per hour and has been employed in out of school care for 5 [4] years.

40% are currently registered with the Scottish Social Services Council.

77% [65%] see out of school care as a career, 97% [95%] are either very or fairly satisfied with their.

55% [16%] are qualified to SVQ 3 or higher and 33% [33%] are working towards level 3 or higher. 33% are paid for additional training/study and the average number of additional hours per month taken for study is 16.

Regards the Level 9 qualification, 33% think it should be a requirement from 2011, 47% think it should be later than 2011 and 21% provided no response.

51% of practitioners require/would like more hours in their job. 30% have a secondary job; of this figure, 67% have another childcare job. The average number of additional hours per week in the secondary childcare job is 14 and the average pay is £8.77.

3.3 Support Worker Profile
It was found that the “average” support worker is 32 years old, employed for 16 [16] hours (term-time) and 23 [20] hours (holiday-time), earning £6.62 [£5.77] per hour and has been employed in out of school care for 4 years.

22% are currently registered with the Scottish Social Services Council.

61% [59%] see out of school care as a career, 95% [97%] are either very or fairly satisfied with their job.

52% [41%] are qualified to SVQ 2 or higher and 38% [59%] are working towards level 2 or higher. 37% are paid for additional training/study and the average number of additional hours per month taken for study is 10.

Regards the Level 9 qualification, 32% think it should be a requirement from 2011, 44% think it should be later than 2011 and 24% provided no response.

48% of support workers require/would like more hours in their job. 32% have a secondary job; of this figure, 42% have another childcare job. The average number of additional hours per week in the secondary childcare job is 18.5 and the average pay is £7.77.

Download: SOSCN OSC Workforce Survey 2009 Report - Initial Findings (.pdf)

New Children's Commissioner for Scotland Announced (23/04/09)

Changes to Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) (23/04/09)

• the income threshold will be increased from £18,000 to £22,000;
• the minimum study requirement for the ILA £500 grant will be reduced from 50% of a full-time course to 40 SCQF Credits;
• eligible students studying part-time taught postgraduate courses (SCQF level 11) will be supported through the ILA500 scheme

Irene Audain, SOSCN Chief Executive welcomed the announcement and said, “This is good news for the out of school care sector, and I hope that this will provide the necessary financial support so needed by many workers to undertake qualifications. The cost of qualifications can be a barrier to individuals starting or remaining in study, yet to have a professional and skilled workforce we need staff qualified to a level appropriate to their job.”

Increase in minimum wages (4/12/08)

Adults (22+ years old)- £5.73 per hour
Development rate (18 - 21 years old) - £4.77 per hour
Young people (16 + 17 years old) - £3.53 per hour

For further information call the National Minimum Wage Helpline 0845 6000 678

SOSCN Out of School Care Workforce Survey 2008 (3/11/08)

Results Summary

1. Lead Practitioner Profile
It was found that the “average” lead practitioner is 46 years old, employed for 26 hours (term-time) and 31 hours (holiday-time), earning £8.93 per hour and has been employed in out of school care for 8 years.

43% have access to a pension through work but only 23% of this has one. 85% see out of school care as a career, 95% are either very or fairly satisfied with their job and 25% have secondary jobs. 10% are qualified to SVQ 4 and 36% are working towards it.

2. Practitioner Profile
It was found that the “average” practitioner is 32 years old, employed for 18 hours (term-time) and 26 hours (holiday-time), earning £6.63 per hour and has been employed in out of school care for 4 years.

30% have access to a pension but only 19% of this has one. 65% see out of school care as a career, 95% are either very or fairly satisfied with their job and 37% have secondary jobs. 16% are qualified to SVQ 3 or higher and 33% are working towards level 3 or higher.

3. Support Worker Profile
It was found that the “average” support worker is 27 years old, employed for 16 hours (term-time) and 20 hours (holiday-time), earning £5.77 per hour.

59% see out of school care as a career, 97% are either very or fairly satisfied with their job and 19% have secondary jobs. 41% are qualified to SVQ 2 or higher and 59% are working towards level 2 or higher.

4. Challenges
The challenges have been organised thematically and are common to Lead Practitioners, Practitioners and Support Workers although the importance of each varies between jobs. The identified themes are as follow:

• Requirements & Legislation
• Recruitment & Retention of Staff
• Voluntary Management Committees
• Qualifications
• Challenging Behaviour of Children
• Not Being Valued
• Money/funding
• Providing new/age-appropriate activities
• Meeting the individual needs of children
• Poor work conditions (salaries, part-time hours etc)

Download: Workforce Survey Report & Full Results (.pdf)

Food Hygiene Legislation/ Environmental Health Inspections Update (03/11/08)

The fact sheet is aimed at all out of school care services providing snacks with the objective of demystifying the legislation, raising issues as a result of disputed inspection requirements, and providing resources for further information and advice.

This fact sheet has been written with input from the SFELC and is also being distributed to Environmental Health departments in Scotland.

Download: Food Hygiene Legislation Information Factsheet (.pdf)