Early Education &Childcare
Who we are and what we do
Our acting Head of Division is Don McGillivray, his personal assistant is Debbie Marshall who can be contacted on 0131 244 7466 or Deborah.j.marshall@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
This division has three branches with the following responsibilities:
BRANCH 1 covers Workforce development issues including training and qualifications, pay and conditions, recruitment and retention and National Review of Early Years and Childcare Workforce. Also responsibility for Childcare Information Services (ChIS).
For further information contact Steven Bell on 0131 244 7657 or steven.bell@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or Jill Wereszczuk on 0131 244 4433 or jill.wereszczuk@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
BRANCH 2 is responsible for universal services including Pre-school education; Quality Initiatives, such as the 0-3 Framework and links with a Curriculum for Excellence. It also oversees progress on Gaelic Medium Pre-school, and other minority language issues; health and nutrition in pre-school and additional support needs within early years. Also childcare policy development including the Scottish Childcare Strategy; Out of School Care; Rural Issues in Childcare and Childminding. It is also the liaison point for the Big Lottery Fund and the Care Commission.
For further information contact Susan Neilands on 0131 244 7608 or susan.neilands@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or Eleanor Manson on 0131 244 7687 or eleanor.manson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
BRANCH 3 leads on targeted services for children and families in a variety of areas including the Sure Start Scotland programme which provides support for families with very young children; parenting and support for parents; support for families with children with disabilities; links with child health services and achieving the Executive's social inclusion objectives for raising children out of poverty, and group coordination of input to issues on drug misuse. It is also responsible for making links with wider initiatives such as New Deal for Lone Parents, Welfare to Work, DWP, Jobcentre Plus, Child Poverty and Social Justice.
For further information, contact Margaret Tod on 0131 244 7024 or margaret.tod@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
We provide a general enquiry point at 0131 244 7145 and faxes should be sent to 0131 244 0978
Website Links:
www.parentzone.co.uk
www.childcarelink.gov.uk