“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: 2nd July 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
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.
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/
Curriculum
We follow national frameworks to guide learning:
3–5 Years: 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
Learning is child-led, based on interests and supported by intentional planning and responsive observation.
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.
Childsmile – Improving the oral health of children in Scotland
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
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.
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.
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
