Changes to the Regulation of Early Education and Childcare

Since April 2002, early education and childcare services have been regulated by a new national body, the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (known as the Care Commission). They register and inspect all provision which requires to be registered under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 to a set of national care standards available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/health/ncseec-00.asp.

From 2005, all those working in early education and childcare will be required to register with the Scottish Social Services Council, a new body set up in April 2002 to regulate the social care workforce, including those working in early education and childcare. In order to register, members of the workforce will have to hold an accredited qualification, or be working towards one.