GIRFEC in Childcare Practice (Scotland)
Welcome to the course. Before you begin, this overview explains what you will cover, how the learning is structured and what you will need to do to successfully complete the course.
About this course
Understanding GIRFEC in everyday childcare practice
Getting It Right for Every Child — GIRFEC — is Scotland’s national approach to promoting, supporting and safeguarding the wellbeing of children and young people.
This course focuses on how GIRFEC applies in everyday childcare practice, including early learning and childcare, nurseries, childminding, wraparound care and school-age or out-of-school childcare.
You will look at how practitioners can notice changes in wellbeing, work with children and families, record and share relevant information, plan proportionate support and contribute effectively when wider or coordinated support is required.
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
Describe the purpose and core principles of GIRFEC and how they apply within childcare practice in Scotland.
Understand the eight wellbeing indicators and use them to support a rounded picture of a child’s wellbeing.
Notice changes, patterns, strengths and emerging needs within a child’s behaviour, participation and everyday experience.
Distinguish general wellbeing concerns from situations that require immediate child-protection action.
Include the child’s voice and work in partnership with families when understanding needs and planning support.
Produce factual records and understand the principles of lawful, necessary and proportionate information sharing.
Identify wellbeing outcomes, agree practical support and review whether that support is making a difference.
Explain Child’s Plans, Named Persons, Lead Professionals and the contribution childcare practitioners can make to multi-agency working.
The course moves from noticing to coordinated support.
Work through the lessons in order
What happens at the end?
After completing the learning, you will take a short online assessment covering the main knowledge and practice points from the course.
GIRFEC does not replace your organisation’s safeguarding or child-protection procedures. Where there is concern that a child may be at risk of harm, your safeguarding procedures should be followed without delay.
GIRFEC applies beyond the nursery day
School-age childcare and out-of-school clubs support older children with relationships, play, confidence, participation, independence and emotional wellbeing. The same GIRFEC principles apply, but practitioners respond to each child’s age, development and communication preferences.
Think it through: How might the club notice strengths, listen to the child, discuss helpful adjustments with family and review whether support is working?
Explore a proportionate practice response
Explore what the child thinks is difficult, agree a practical welcome routine and a choice of quiet activity, and review the outcome. Avoid assuming the child is simply being difficult or sharing information beyond what is necessary.
When you’re ready, begin with Lesson 1.
You do not need to know GIRFEC in detail before starting. Work through the course in sequence, use the activities to test your thinking and refer back to earlier lessons whenever you need to.