“A Place to Thrive”

Jackton Early Learning and Childcare

Parent Handbook

Jackton ELC

Rochester Avenue G75 8WG

Nursery Telephone Number: 01355 200138

Email: gw23jacktonelcoffice@glow.sch.uk

Care Inspectorate Registration Number:

CS2023000265

Last Updated: 24th October 2025

Welcome to Jackton ELC!

Dear Parent / Carer,

We are delighted to welcome you and your child to Jackton Early Learning and Childcare Centre (ELC).

Our purpose-built campus opened in August 2023,

right in the heart of the growing Jackton community.

Jackton ELC aims to be more than a nursery—it’s a community hub, supporting families and nurturing the development of young children.

Opening Hours & Attendance Patterns

Jackton ELC operates 52 weeks per year, closing only on public holidays (listed at the end of this handbook).

Opening hours: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

We offer flexible attendance options:

Full days (8am-6:00pm)

Morning sessions (8am-12:35pm)

Afternoon sessions (1pm-5:35pm)

We aim to support each family’s needs—please speak to a member of the team about suitable options.

Funded Hours & Wraparound Care

In line with the Scottish Government’s pledge, we offer 1140 hours of free Early Learning and Childcare to:

All 3- and 4-year-olds Eligible 2-year-olds

Additional wraparound care can be purchased.

Meals and Nutrition

Depending on their attendance pattern, children are provided with:

Brunch

Lunch

Afternoon tea

All meals are prepared in line with the Scottish Government’s “Setting the Table” guidelines and meet children’s nutritional needs.

Please complete a Dietary Requirements Form if your child has any allergens or intolerances. The office will be able to supply you with this form.

Menus rotate regularly and follow a three-week pattern. Menus and information regarding adapted diets can be viewed using the QR codes below.

School lunches – South Lanarkshire Council

Keeping children safe: supporting positive mealtime experiences in early learning and childcare (ELC)

https://hub.careinspectorate.com/media/5018/elc-practice-note-4-mealtimes.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Registration & Capacity

Jackton ELC is registered with the Care Inspectorate to provide care for children from 2 years old until primary school.

2–3 Room: Up to 20 children

3–5 Rooms: Up to 96 children

Our setting includes large, open-plan playrooms and extensive outdoor spaces, accessible from every room.

Admissions Policy

All places are allocated according to South Lanarkshire Council’s Admissions Policy, reviewed monthly at a central admissions panel.

https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/info/200184/early_learning_and_childcare/1934/early_years_admissions_policy_feb_2021

Online Learning Journals

We use a secure platform called Learning Journals to document your child’s progress. You can view and contribute from home.

https://learningjournals.co.uk/who-we-help/parents/

Our Curriculum Rationale – A Place to Thrive

At Jackton ELC, our vision is to create A Place to Thrive — a warm, inclusive environment where every child can grow, learn, and feel a true sense of belonging.

To support this, we offer a curriculum that is child-centred, flexible and differentiated — meaning it is thoughtfully adapted to meet the individual needs, interests, and developmental stages of each child. Our aim is to ensure that every child experiences achievable learning and is supported to make progress in a way that is meaningful to them.

We know that children learn best when they feel confident and capable. To make sure learning is both accessible and engaging, we:

Plan experiences based on children’s interests, strengths, and next steps
Offer varying levels of support and challenge within daily routines and activities
Create adaptable learning environments that reflect different learning styles and needs
Observe and reflect on children’s development to ensure progress is realistic and appropriate
Work in close partnership with families and, where needed, other professionals, to ensure joined-up support

By differentiating our curriculum, we help every child to feel successful — whether they are developing new friendships, gaining independence, or exploring new ideas through play. This tailored approach allows us to uphold our commitment to equity, inclusion, and nurturing every child’s full potential.

In everything we do, we strive to make Jackton ELC a true Place to Thrive.

We follow national frameworks to guide learning:

3–5 Year Milestones: Supporting learners with complex and additional support needs.

Curriculum for Excellence (CfE)

2–3 Years: Together We Can and We Will

Pre-Birth to Three: Holistic learning, play-based approach

Key learning areas include:

Literacy & English

Numeracy & Mathematics

Health & Wellbeing

Expressive Arts

Technologies

Social Studies

Sciences

Religious & Moral Education

Assessment & Key Workers

Assessment is ongoing through observation and tracking. Your child will have a key worker as their main point of contact Regular communication and Stay & Play sessions help keep you involved

https://education.gov.scot/learning-in-scotland/education-sectors/early-learning-and-childcare-elc/

Support for Families

We work in partnership with agencies and families to meet the unique needs of each child and provide inclusive support.

https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/children-and-young-people-speech-and-language-therapy-service/

Childsmile – Improving the oral health of children in Scotland

https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/occupational-therapy/children-and-young-people/early-years/

Family Engagement & Participation

We value family involvement through:

Stay & Play events

Feedback questionnaires

Fundraising activities

Volunteering (e.g., arts, gardening)

Promoting Inclusion

We celebrate diversity and promote equality across:

Ethnicity and culture

Gender and family grouping

Language, abilities, and backgrounds

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

We strive for excellence by:

Encouraging staff training and development

Collaborating on our Nursery Improvement Plan

Parent Communication and Concern Policy

A Place to Thrive – promoting a safe, supportive and happy nursery for our children, families and staff.

At Jackton ELC, we value open and positive communication with our families. We believe that by working together, we can create the best experiences and outcomes for every child in our care.

If you ever have a question, concern, or suggestion, please don’t hesitate to speak with us — we’re always here to listen and help.

How to Raise a Concern

If you have a concern, we kindly ask that you arrange a suitable time to meet with a member of our team.
This helps us ensure your concern is given the attention and privacy it deserves.

During our discussion, we will:

Listen carefully and work with you to understand your perspective.
Aim to resolve the matter promptly and respectfully.
Agree on next steps and follow up where needed.

Our Commitment

We approach all communication with kindness, respect, and professionalism, and we ask that our families do the same.
Together, we can maintain a positive and supportive environment where children, families, and staff can all thrive.

Attendance & Illness

Please notify us if your child is absent before 9am. If they have been unwell with vomiting or diarrhoea, they must stay home for 48 hours after symptoms end.

https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/Guidance_on_infection_control_in%20schools_poster.pdf

Settling-In Process

To ensure a smooth transition, we have a gentle settling-in process tailored to your child’s needs. This involves three small sessions, and an example of the settling process is:

Settle 1: Mon 19 Aug, 10:30–11:30 (guardian attends)

Settle 2: Tues 20 Aug, 10:00–12:00 (guardian attends)

Settle 3: Wed 21 Aug, 8:00–11:00 (guardian not required, must be contactable)

You’ll receive your child’s schedule 4 weeks prior to their start date.

Medication Policy

Prescribed and non-prescribed medication may be administered. Parents must complete a medical form and provide the first dose at home.

Risk assessments are completed for long-term conditions, please discuss further with a member of the management who will support you in completing all appropriate paper work.

https://hub.careinspectorate.com/media/6297/management-of-medication-in-daycare-of-children-and-childminding-services_july25.pdf

Drop-Off & Collection

Children must be accompanied to and from the playroom door and please inform staff of early or alternative pick-ups.

Please note that parents are responsible for all their children whilst on the nursery premises, both before signing in and after signing out, as well as within the car park area.

Collectors must be 16+ and know your designated password

Emergency Closure

In rare cases (e.g., weather or power issues), we may need to close early or fully. We’ll notify families immediately via phone/email.

Birthdays & Celebrations

Please do not bring cakes or treats due to allergy risks. Your child’s birthday will be celebrated at nursery.

Please note that nursery staff are not responsible for the planning or distribution of party invitations. However, the nursery will provide a designated area where parents can display their child’s invitations.

We encourage parents to check this area regularly for any updates.

What to Bring

Change of clothes

Nappies, wipes and nappy sacks if required

Weather-appropriate outdoor wear

Label all items clearly

Outdoor Play & Sun Safety

Outdoor play happens daily, year-round. Please provide wellies, a warm coat, or a sun hat depending on the weather.

Apply sun cream at the start of your child’s session —we will top it up as needed. (sun cream should be supplied by parents and should not include nut oils)

https://www.sunsafenurseries.co.uk/

Care Plans

Each child has a Care Plan, a living document that includes – but not limited – to the following:

Medical and contact info

Development stages

Permissions (photos, learning journal, etc.)

You may request to view or update this plan at any time.

Child Welfare & Safety

All staff undergo annual Child Protection training. Any concerns will be referred to:

Nicola Wilson – Head of Establishment & Child

Protection Co-ordinator

Family Collective Rationale

We are launching a Family Collective to strengthen connections between parents/carers, children, and nursery staff.

We will meet four times a year and will; Share ideas and feedback, promoting partnership and community links and support nursery development.

Benefits; Greater family involvement, peer support and networking and transparency in nursery decisions.

If you’re interested in joining, please speak to Nicola or Gillian.

Rationale Created: March 2025

Public Holidays 2025–2026

Jackton ELC will be closed on the following dates:

In-Service Day – Tues 12 & Wed 13 Aug 2025

September Weekend – Fri 26 & Mon 29 Sept 2025

In-Service Day – Mon 10 Nov 2025

Christmas – Thurs 25 & Fri 26 Dec 2025

New Years – Thurs 1 & Fri 2 Jan 2026

In-Service Day – Wed 18 Feb 2026

Easter Weekend – Fri 3 & Mon 6 Apr 2026

May Day – Mon 4 May 2026

In-Service Day – Thurs 7 May 2026

Local Holiday – Fri 22 & Mon 25 May 2026

Fair Monday – Mon 6 Jul 2026

Please Note Information in this handbook was accurate at the time of writing but may be subject to change. Any updates will be shared with you promptly.

Jackton Early Learning and Childcare "A Place to Thrive"

Nursery Handbook