Quality assurance
Regulation and inspection
The two bodies responsible for regulation and inspection of early years services in Scotland are the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (the Care Commission) and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education.
Care Commission (SCRC)
The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (the Care Commission) is the independent regulator of a wide range of care services, including childcare. The Care Commission regulates services by inspecting them against the relevant legislation and National Care Standards.
The Care Commission inspects every pre-school centre once a year.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIE)
HMIE inspects and reports on the quality of education in pre-school centres, schools and other educational establishments. HMIE conducts regular joint inspections of pre-school centres with the Care Commission - joint inspection reports are published on the HMIE website.
The note for parents on nursery school, class or pre-school inspection explains what happens during an HMIE inspection and how often inspections take place.
Self-evaluation
The Child at the Centre
This revised edition of the self-evaluation guide will be of interest to staff working in the pre-school sector and in the early stages of primary school.
National Care Standards
The national care standards for childcare cover services for children and young people up to the age of 16 years which are to be regulated under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001.