Recovery play survey report


Early learning and childcare (ELC) practitioners in Scotland say the way children interact with adults in care settings has changed as a result of the pandemic.

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Braw Lad Cory lands Promise Lead for young people role


Alison Jamieson, team manager in the children and young people’s team met with Cory Paterson, Scottish Borders Council Promise Lead for young people, to ask him about how his care experience and ongoing support from staff at Wheatlands children’s residential home. In the interview, Cory reflects on how genuine, authentic, meaningful relationships, that have continued beyond the time he lived in the house, have helped him with his career and supported him in achieving his personal goals. One of these goals was being picked as his town’s Braw Lad to lead the annual horse ride outs and festivities.

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Fostering and adoption statistical bulletin 2022-23


This report provides insight into the operation of fostering, adoption and continuing care services in Scotland over the past five years.  It is based on data collected from service providers in their annual returns between 2018 to 2022.

Jackie Irvine, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “The Care Inspectorate is committed to helping children in Scotland thrive. We hope that the insights in this report can play a part in improving and strengthening the supports which are in place for children and young people through adoption, fostering and continuing care services. We’d like to especially thank the providers of these services who invest significant time in providing information to us each year. By working together, we can stand up for children and strengthen communities across Scotland.”

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Joint statement from the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland


Joint statement from the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland on early learning and childcare inspections and progress towards the delivery of the shared inspection framework.

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Updated nappy changing guidance


We have updated our guidance Nappy changing for early learning and childcare settings (excluding childminders).  We know young children benefit from warm, sensitive and responsive interactions throughout their day.  This includes their basic care needs such as nappy changing. We have further strengthened our understanding of the importance of infection prevention and control for children following the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent E.coli outbreaks across Scotland.

This updated guidance will help settings ensure they have appropriate facilities and equipment that provide young children with a suitable, safe, clean environment that promotes privacy and dignity.

This guidance sets out the minimum requirements for nappy changing.  The Care Inspectorate will use this guidance to support positive outcomes for children when registering a setting or varying conditions of registration.

When we are in your setting undertaking scrutiny work, we may identify that improvements are needed to nappy changing facilities.  To support positive outcomes for children, we will highlight areas for improvements or requirements to help you implement this best practice guidance.

We hope this updated guidance helps us all to support the safety and wellbeing of practitioners and children.

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