Published 28 September 2022

Children attending early education in West Dunbartonshire are progressing well in both reading and writing.

A report to the Educational Services Committee shows a seven percent increase in writing and a 17 percent increase in concepts of print. Figures also show improvements in both phonics and numeracy.

The strong trend shows children have achieved ambitious targets set in early learning and childcare centres

A working group to develop learning, review practices and share good practice has also been set up which will see staff attend professional learning workshops led by the Scottish Government to ensure the continued success and high standards within early learning and childcare centres.

Plans are also in place to expand the One-ery model of curriculum delivery, based around play pedagogy and nurturing approaches, which was successfully piloted in campus schools and Early Learning and Childcare Centres earlier this year for parents deferring entry to primary school following the pandemic.

Convener of Educational Services, Councillor Clare Steel, said: “We are committed to early education and it’s great to see improvements across all learning in our ELCCs. As recent inspections show, our ELCCs are achieving grades of good and very good and these are the grades we want for all our centres.  I would like to thank our dedicated employees for their hard work and commitment which is recognised in all of the inspection reports.

Vice Convener of Educational Services, Councillor Michelle McGinty, said: “It is very pleasing to see these improvements and this is testament to our commitment to ensure children within our centres progress well. Our regular literacy and numeracy assessments allows us to monitor and track children’s progress and makes sure we are on course to meet our ambitious targets. These ongoing assessments means we are continually reviewing and assessing our practices which is having a positive impact on the services we deliver within all our centres.”

A report to the Educational Services Committee shows a seven percent increase in writing and a 17 percent increase in concepts of print. Figures also show improvements in both phonics and numeracy.

The strong trend shows children have achieved ambitious targets set in early learning and childcare centres

A working group to develop learning, review practices and share good practice has also been set up which will see staff attend professional learning workshops led by the Scottish Government to ensure the continued success and high standards within early learning and childcare centres.

Plans are also in place to expand the One-ery model of curriculum delivery, based around play pedagogy and nurturing approaches, which was successfully piloted in campus schools and Early Learning and Childcare Centres earlier this year for parents deferring entry to primary school following the pandemic.

Convener of Educational Services, Councillor Clare Steel, said: “We are committed to early education and it’s great to see improvements across all learning in our ELCCs. As recent inspections show, our ELCCs are achieving grades of good and very good and these are the grades we want for all our centres.  I would like to thank our dedicated employees for their hard work and commitment which is recognised in all of the inspection reports.

Vice Convener of Educational Services, Councillor Michelle McGinty, said: “It is very pleasing to see these improvements and this is testament to our commitment to ensure children within our centres progress well. Our regular literacy and numeracy assessments allows us to monitor and track children’s progress and makes sure we are on course to meet our ambitious targets. These ongoing assessments means we are continually reviewing and assessing our practices which is having a positive impact on the services we deliver within all our centres.”