New legal definition for school age childcare: consultation

Qualifications

For a number of years, SACC providers have reported difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff. This is a complex issue with more than one cause, but SACC providers have told us that the current qualification requirements for staff can cause real challenges. We also know that a lack of suitably qualified staff is a factor in a number of SACC service closures, having a direct impact upon the availability and sustainability of SACC services.

There are qualification requirements for staff working in day care of children roles. However, the SACC sector would like more flexibility in the types of qualifications which are accepted, and relevant to the SACC sector e.g. play work. They have pointed out that a wider range of qualifications would allow them to employ staff with different and relevant skill sets that will offer a better experience to the children they work with. Concerns have also been raised about the levels of qualification required, with many services querying how realistic they are for SACC roles which are often part-time.

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), which regulates the childcare workforce, has advised that it would only be possible to develop different qualification requirements for SACC and ELC if they were separate care service types. Defining SACC separately would create a new care service type. When a new type of care service is introduced, SSSC develops the job roles and functions which will be needed to support that new type of service. This includes consideration of qualifications, registration fees and Continuous Professional Learning requirements.

Creating a new definition for SACC would provide an opportunity to review current qualification requirements and to consider what skills, qualifications and level of qualifications would add most value to future SACC services. Consultation on these job roles, functions and supporting qualifications would be taken forward separately by SSSC.