SOSCN has a number of publications available to both members and non-members.

SPECIAL OFFER TO SOSCN MEMBERS
Purchase any 4 of the following publications for only £100:

"Step into Out of School Care- A Start-up Guide to Out of School Care"
"Out of School Care: Employer and Staff Handbook"
"Keeping Track: Improve the Running of Your Out of School Care"
"Inpsired Healthy Eating for Play, Care and Learning Services"
"Different but Equa. Theory and practice development with games, activities and resources"

Publications order form (pdf file)

Step Into Out of School Care- A start-up guide to out of school care

This is a comprehensive guide to setting up an out of school care in 7 concise steps. The reader is taken from the earliest stages of researching the need for a service through surveys and questionnaires, to creating a steering group, searching for premises, seeking funding, recruiting staff, and marketing and developing the service. Legislation and requirements as well as good practice are highlighted at each step. The guide contains an additional section looking at the specific requirements needed to set up an out of school care service for older children (11+ age group). The guide encourages the reader to consult with children and young people at all stages of the process, and provides ideas as to how this might be best achieved. £25 SOSCN members       £30 Non-members (+ £2 for packaging and posting)

Out of School Care: Employer and Staff Handbook

This is an essential publication for all out of school, or indeed childcare, providers. This publication is divided into an employer’s handbook and a staff handbook. The employer’s handbook contains current employment legislation, advice on recruiting and appraising staff; a model contract including grievance and disciplinary procedures; and various other essential sample documents such as job descriptions,probation and appraisal forms. The staff handbook contains all policies and procedures and information necessary to fulfill the requirements of quality assurance schemes such as Aiming High Scotland and Investors in People. Sample policies include: Bullying and Harassment; Equal Opportunities; Health and Safety; Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive Leave; Recruitment Policies and Procedures; Redundancy; Sexual Harassment, and Whistle Blowing. NB These policies and procedures are written from an employment point of view and may differ from those in place for running your service. £30 SOSCN members       £40 Non-members (+ £2 for packaging and posting)

Keeping Track: Improve the Running of Your Out of School Care

This book has been designed for use by managers and staff to improve the running of out of school care services. This publication provides the necessary systems and procedures for running a business-like and more financially sustainable service; ideas are based upon good practice already in existence. It looks at funding for out of school care; calculating per unit cost; setting fee levels; maximising income and minimising expenditure without compromising quality; financial record keeping and systems; contracts and sample forms for recording all the essential information about your club. £25 SOSCN members       £30 Non-members (+ £2 for packaging and posting)

Inspired Healthy Eating for Play, Care and Learning Services

Do you have limited or no access to kitchen areas? Stuck for healthy eating ideas? If so, this book is what you are looking for: this book has ideas and recipes for snacks before and after school which do not require cooking and are fast and fun to prepare. There are sections looking at what is healthy eating and how you can create a positive social experience for children at snack time. There is additional information on where to get ideas and activities relating to healthier and more active lifestyles. £25 SOSCN members       £30 Non-members (+ £2 for packaging and posting)

Different But Equal. Theory and Practice Development with Games, Activities and Resources

Essential reading for all playworkers. This book is full of resources and ideas for children’s games, staff team and whole service activities on the themes of rights, equality and diversity. The publications discusses the reasons for promoting rights, equality and diversity and how to develop rights’ based practice with particular emphasis on anti-discriminatory practice and disability/equality issues. £30 SOSCN members       £40 Non-members (+ £2 for packaging and posting)

"Policies & Procedures For the New Care Standards"

A 34-page book providing policies and procedures for out of school care services in Scotland covering the New Care Standards. The publication covers the following topics: General Policies; Aims & Objectives; Admissions; Accidents & Incidents; Behaviour; Child Protection; Children’s Participation; Record Keeping; Complaints; Confidentiality; Equal Opportunities; Health & Safety; Partnership with Parents; Staff Recruitment & Vetting and Whistle Blowing (Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view the following order form. To download a free copy go to www.adobe.com) £15 SOSCN members       £20 Non-members (+ £2 for packaging and posting)