Quality framework for daycare of children, childminding and school-aged childcare

The new Quality improvement framework for the early learning and childcare sectors is available on the Education Scotland website. It is important to note that we will continue to use our existing frameworks and approaches for inspection while the new approaches are developed, ahead of implementation in September 2025. The 18-month gap between Education Scotland and Care Inspectorate inspections will also remain in place.

We published our quality framework for daycare of children, childminding and school-aged childcare in March 2022, informing the sector that we would use the framework in our inspections from 1 June 2022.  We want to take this opportunity to provide you with some additional materials to support understanding and use of the framework as a self-evaluation tool.

The framework focuses on children’s wellbeing and sets out the elements that will help us answer key questions about the impact care and learning is making to outcomes for children. The primary use of the framework is as a tool for self-evaluation to assist settings self-evaluate their own performance in delivering good care and learning for children. What influences good outcomes for children has not changed but we hope the way in which the framework is set out will reassure practitioners of how this will apply in their particular setting. This framework should support settings to showcase their strengths and identify improvement, where required.

You can read across the new key questions to the previous quality themes:

Our inspectors will use the framework to provide independent assurance about the quality of care, play and learning. In March 2022 we informed providers that when using the framework at inspections, we will select a small number of core quality indicators. We have taken account of what has been happening in some settings alongside recovery from the pandemic, imbedding of the expansion programme and staffing. We have therefore updated the list of core indicators and included deployment of staff.  The core quality indicators that will be evaluated at inspection will be:

1.1 Nurturing care and support

1.3 Play and learning

2.2 Children experience high quality facilities

3.1 Quality assurance and improvement are led well

4.3 Staff deployment

      *4.1 Staff skills, knowledge, and values. (For childminders without assistants)

Useful links

• Frequently asked questions
• How our framework links to Education Scotland’s ‘How Good is Our Early learning and Childcare'

We also want to share some good practice examples of how the framework is supporting improvement in settings and inspectors will be keen to hear from you on inspection about the improvements you have made since the introduction of the framework.  We are excited to use the framework as our methodology will be transparent on how inspectors evaluate practice and supports settings deliver high quality play and learning experiences for children.  We look forward to seeing how the framework is used across the ELC sector to enhance the quality of care, play and learning provided to our children in Scotland. 

Pleased be assured when your inspector undertakes the first quality framework inspection of your setting, they will use the same approaches as previously used and at the beginning and throughout the inspection we will share information to ensure settings are fully informed and involved in the process.

Following the publication of ‘Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision for Scottish Education’, including the recommendation, put forward by Professor Muir, to create a shared inspection framework for early learning and childcare settings, Scottish Government will undertake a consultation on approaches to scrutiny of early learning and childcare in the coming months. We are fully committed to working with the sector, other inspectorates and partner organisations to implement the findings of the consultation.

In the meantime this framework provides the sector with a framework that reflects national policy and best practice and will support settings moving forward and supporting good outcomes for children and their families.

Quality improvement framework for the early learning and childcare sectors

The Quality improvement framework for the early learning and childcare sectors is available on the Education Scotland website.

It is important to note that the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland are using the new framework for inspection from Monday 22 September 2025.

Read more about this in our latest joint statement, published on 18 September.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) we have compiled to accompany the framework. These address some of the key points raised with us so far, via stakeholders and during our recent workshops and webinars. We will keep these FAQs updated as new questions arise. We have also produced these FAQs on self-evaluation.

When is the framework being launched and where can I find it?

The framework was launched on 18 September 2025 and is being used in inspection from 22 September 2025. It can be accessed here.

You can access printable documents here.

• Introduction
• Childminding quality indicators
• Early learning and childcare quality indicators
• School age childcare quality indicators

Have recent inspections been done using the old framework or the new one?

Inspections by the Care Inspectorate and HM Inspectorate have been carried out using the previous frameworks up to and including 18 September 2025. Thereafter, all inspections will be undertaken using only the new framework.

The Care Inspectorate and HM Inspectors undertook pilot visits/inspections to test the quality indicators of the new Quality improvement framework for early learning and childcare sectors. In total, 75 pilot visits/inspections took place across 28 local authorities between February and April 2025.

Piloting the new framework allowed the Care Inspectorate inspectors and HM Inspectors to test it in live settings – from exploring the use of individual quality indicators to gathering feedback.

Thank you to every setting that volunteered to be part of these pilots.

HM Inspectors will undertake a small number of pilot inspections in September and October 2025 to further refine the inspection methodology for their single inspections using the new framework.

I am a primary school headteacher with a nursery class. Will my nursery class be inspected using the Quality improvement framework for the early leaning and childcare sectors?

Yes, HM Inspectors will begin using the Quality improvement framework for the early learning and childcare sectors in their pilot inspections from the 22 September 2025. From October 2025 the Care Inspectorate and HM Inspectors will both use the Quality improvement framework in all shared inspections.

I am due to have a further inspection from HM Inspectors or a follow up inspection from Care Inspectorate. What will the focus of my inspection be based on?

The further inspection or follow up inspection will focus on the areas for improvement and or requirements from the previous inspection. These will have been noted in previous letters and/or inspection reports.

What changes are being made to inspection methodology?

Both inspectorates have reviewed shared inspection approaches to increase collaboration and reduce unnecessary duplication. One of the changes being made to help reduce pre-inspection workload is that we will not ask for a self-evaluation paper in advance of inspection.

Is the ‘digital framework’ the same as the ‘shared framework’?

Yes, when we say the framework is digital, we are referring to the Quality improvement framework for the early learning and childcare sectors (a shared framework) being hosted online.

The digital nature of the framework offers several advantages: it simplifies searching for individual quality indicators, provides easy access to best practice guidance and ensures you always have the most current version when accessed online.

Will there be a printable version of the framework?

There is an option to download a printable PDF copy of the quality framework directly from the framework itself.

For those who prefer a printed PDF version of the framework, it's important to be alert to framework update communications so you can keep your printed PDF version up to date.

The framework is currently under refinement and we will communicate any changes made when the final version is published. We recommend that you wait until the launch of the framework in September before you print any sections.

Is the shared framework replacing How good is our early learning and childcare and A quality framework for daycare of children, childminding and school-aged childcare?

Yes. From 22 September 2025, the Care Inspectorate a nd HM Inspectors w ill be using the new ‘Quality improvement framework for the early learning and childcare sectors’ only. This framework replaces both How good is our early learning and childcare and A quality framework for daycare of children, ‘childminding and school-aged childcare.

Can we start using the new framework now?

Yes, many settings have already begun to use the Quality improvement framework for early learning and childcare settings to support their self-evaluation.

Is it ok to continue to use the current framework until September?

We understand that settings will adopt the new quality improvement framework when it best suits them, and that there will be a transition period as settings move away from How good is our early learning and childcare and A quality framework for daycare of children, childminding and school-aged childcare.

From 22 September 2025, the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland will be using the new ‘Quality improvement framework for the early learning and childcare sectors’ only.

Not having numbered quality indicators makes referencing throughout multiple documents quite challenging/time consuming. Can we create our own coding system?

To meet user accessibility requirements, quality indicators are not numbered, and we encourage using their full titles.

We encourage you to focus on the wording of each quality indictor, for example, 'nurturing care and support'. However, if developing a coding system is helpful in your setting, you are free to do so.

We understand the framework may still feel unfamiliar, making it challenging to grasp initially. To help, we have created visual tables of the framework's headings and quality indicators. We hope these visuals support you in seeing the holistic nature of the framework and how all the different quality indictors contribute to quality practice.

Early learning and childcare

Childminding

School-aged childcare

Will we be inspected on all quality indicators? Will we be told which quality indicators are focused on prior to inspections taking place?

The Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland issued a joint statement on 24 June 2025, specifying the quality indicators each inspectorate intends to inspect against. The complete statement is available here.

How many themes will be covered under each quality indicator?

All themes under each of the inspected against quality indicators will be considered.

Will reports reflect the new framework?

From22 September 2025, reports from both Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate will reflect the ‘Quality improvement framework for the early learning and childcare sectors’.

What willshared inspection reports look like?

Inspection reports are being updated to align with the Quality improvement framework for the early learning and childcare sectors. They will continue to offer a summary of inspection findings to support your continuous improvement journey.

Will the Care Inspectorate and HM Inspectors carry out separate inspections?

Yes, both organisations will continue to undertake their own inspections, as well as shared inspections.

Which service types will be inspected by Care Inspectorate, and which will be inspected by HM Inspectors? 

Both organisations will retain their current roles and responsibilities. The Care Inspectorate will continue to inspect all early learning and childcare (ELC) settings, including childminders and school-age childcare, regardless of whether they provide funded ELC or not.  

HM Inspectors will inspect settings providing funded ELC (excluding childminders).  

Both organisations will use the new framework for single and shared inspections from 22 September 2025. 

Why are there not weak illustrations for all QIs?

In response to stakeholder feedback, the inspectorates have developed weak illustrations for all of the quality indicators. These will be included in the framework's launch version this September.

Why is there no separate transitions QI?

Both inspectorates recognise the importance of transitions at all stages of development and learning. We are currently refining the framework, and transitions has been considered. It is a key focus as we develop the final version, which will launch on 1 September 2025.

We will provide further support and guidance on how this is exemplified in the framework in future communications and engagement sessions.

Will the Care Inspectorate and HM Inspectors use shared evaluation criteria?

The Care Inspectorate and HM Inspectors worked together to develop shared criteria. The criteria has been refined following the pilot inspections and will be integrated into the framework for its launch in September.

While we will share an evaluation criteria, the frequency of inspections based on evaluations will continue to differ based on each inspectorate roles and responsibilities. For example, if a funded provider of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) does not achieve "good" or higher evaluations from the Care Inspectorate, the Care Inspectorate will aim to revisit the service within the following inspection year. This approach is designed to align with the Scottish Early Learning and Childcare National Standard.

Will there be support for settings with their own self-evaluation using the new framework?

The Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland delivered sessions on self-evaluation using the new framework in May 2025. A recording of one of the webinars is available on our YouTube channel, and plans for further engagement around self-evaluation are being developed. Details of future sessions will be shared through the usual communications channels

Is there a Gaelic version of the new framework?

We aim to make a Gaelic version of the framework available when the framework is launched in September 2025.

Register a childminding service

Childminders must, by law, register with the Care Inspectorate. 

The legal definition of a childminder is a person who works with children for more than two hours a day in the childminder’s own home for reward.

We regulate childminders using the Health and Social Care Standards and the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

Before you apply to register as a childminder you should read: 

• Guidance for applicants on applying to register a care service
• Guidance for providers and applicants on aims and objectives
• A quality framework for daycare of children, childminding and school-aged childcare
• Self-evaluation for improvement – your guide
• Childminders: What to expect when we inspect
• Registering and running a childminding service: what you need to know
• Food Standards Agency - advice about operating as a food business
• Statement – EU Services Directive

You can also visit The Hub, our ‘one-stop-shop’ website which has a wide range of resources aimed at supporting improvement in social care and social work by sharing intelligence and research-led practice.

What to expect from the registration process

You can now apply to register a care service online, using our new, secure system.  The online application is simple to complete and only asks you questions that are relevant to your service type.

You can manage your application easily.  You can save it as you go and return to it later so you can complete and submit at your own pace.  You can go back to previous stages to check, change and add to your application.  The new application allows you to upload supporting documents and pay your application fee.

Read our guidance for applicants on applying to register a care service and online registration application form - user guide before applying. 

Fees

The registration fee for a childminder is £28.00.  This must be paid before we can consider your application.  An annual continuation fee of £17.00 is also applied for every year that you are registered.  

All application fees are non-returnable.

Find out more about our fees.

Fire safety information

The Chief Fire Officer Association on behalf of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has produced guidance on the fire precautions childminders should take.

• Fire precautions - a childminders' guide
• Fire guidance letter
• Guidance notes for fire safety checklist

You should complete the following documents and return them to the relevant organisation when you are ready to do so.  As the checklist is a declaration that everything is in place you may wish to wait until later in the process to do this.

• Fire safety checklist - This should be completed and sent your local fire authority.
• Fire safety checklist confirmation - This acts as your confirmation to us that you have sent the checklist to the local fire authority.  This should be completed and sent to us.

Membership of the PVG scheme and criminal records checks

You must pay an additional fee for the cost of a Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme record checks as appropriate.  We will determine from your application who this will be applicable to and be in contact with you to provide the relevant disclosure documentation.

You can find out more about the fees for PVG applications on the Disclosure Scotland website.

The Care Inspectorate must be a counter signatory to your own scheme record, and as such we require you to progress your PVG application through us.  Once we complete the first part of the PVG application, you’ll receive an email with a link to complete your section.

Please be aware that, in addition to the PVG check, the Care Inspectorate also run online searches of publicly available information.  If we have concerns about the information we find, we may contact Police Scotland.

Registering with Disclosure Scotland

For you to countersign PVG or disclosure checks for your staff or volunteers, you must be registered with Disclosure Scotland.  You can find out how to register with Disclosure Scotland on their website. You will have a number of responsibilities after your register, including:

• following Disclosure Scotland's Code of Practice
• referring individuals to Disclosure Scotland when harmful or potential harmful behaviour and you dismiss the person as a result (or would or might have done had they not otherwise left).

You can also use an umbrella body to countersign PVG or disclosure checks on behalf of your organisation.  A list of umbrella bodies is available on the Disclosure Scotland website.

Contact Disclosure Scotland if you need help:

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 0300 020 0040
Monday to Thursday: 9am to 4pm
Friday: 9am to 3:30pm

What happens next?

Once we have received your completed application and all the documentation we have asked you for, and you have paid the fee, we will contact you.  We aim to assess applications for a childminding service within three months and all other services within six months.  However, this presumes that you supply us with a competent and fully detailed application, as well as any additional information we request.  It is in your interest to give us all the information we ask for in the application form to prevent any delays or the risk of us closing or refusing your application.

Once you have submitted your application form our national registration team will assess and check:

• that the information you give us in the application form is appropriate and comprehensive
• that the correct fee has been paid
• whether you are fit to provide and manage the service
• if your premises (where the service is to be provided) is fit to be used for that purpose
• that the proposed service will make all the proper provisions for the health, welfare, independence, choice, privacy and dignity of everyone using the service.

We may also check the financial viability of the service.  Any information we ask for during this process is in accordance with the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

Successful registration

If your registration is successful, we will confirm this and also provide you with a certificate of registration, (electronically via our eForm portal), detailing the conditions of registration.  You should print the certificate and display it so that anyone who uses your service can read it.  The conditions of registration are also available on our care service list.

You will also see a list of records that you must keep and a list of notifications that you must make to the Care Inspectorate within our eForms portal.  See our guidance on records childminding services must keep and guidance on notification recording.

Decisions on an application to register a service

Following an application for registration, under Section 59(1) of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 ("the Act"), the Care Inspectorate can in terms of

s60(1):

• grant the application unconditionally, s60(1)
• grant the application subject to conditions, s60(2)
• refuse the application, s60(1).

If we propose to refuse your registration, or to grant registration subject to conditions that have not been agreed in writing, we must give you notice of our proposal to do so.  Such a notice, where sent by post, is deemed (by section 101 of the Act) to be received on the third day after the day it was posted. 

If you wish to dispute any matters, you must do this in writing within 14 days.  The notice of proposal will state where these must be addressed to.

If we propose to refuse registration, or to grant registration subject to conditions that have not been agreed in writing, you have a right of appeal to the sheriff.  This right is set out at section 75 of the Act.  Any appeal must be made within 14 days (17 days if we have sent this in the post). 

The Scottish Childminding Association

The Scottish Childminding Association is an organisation dedicated to supporting childminders in Scotland.  From helping you with your application to register, to offering courses to help you keep up with latest developments in childcare, you can get lots of helpful advice and information.  Visit their website or call them on 01786 445377.

Create an account to begin your application

Sign in to see an existing application 

If you need the application form in an alternative format, please call our contact centre on 0345 600 9527.

Registering school holiday, activity and food provision programmes

Does your school holiday, activity and food provision programme need to be registered? 

Services offered to children and families as part of school holiday, activity and food provision programmes may need to be registered with the Care Inspectorate.  The information below relates to children and young people from primary school age and above.  

It is an offence to operate a care service in Scotland without being registered with the Care Inspectorate and the Care Inspectorate is happy to provide advice.

For advice on registration, you can email our registration team: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Childcare service or school holiday, activity and food provision programme

Is the provision advertised as school holiday childcare?  
If the answer is yes, then generally the service needs to be registered.   

Is the service provided to enable/support parents to work, study or attend training?

If the answer is yes, it would be a childcare service and needs to be registered. 

If the service is providing a school holiday club/activity club/playscheme/youth club that is activity based, then it needs to be promoted as such. It should not be promoted as providing childcare.  

If you are solely providing an activity-based programme, then this does not need to be registered.  

Mealtimes  

Depending on the level of support the individual child needs at mealtimes, this could be considered as care, then the service would require to be registered.

Personal care  

Do children need help with personal care such as going to the toilet, taking off or putting on appropriate clothing?  
If the answer is yes, then the service requires to be registered.  

Children with additional support needs    

Do the children attending the service have additional support needs (ASN)?  

If the answer is yes, then generally the service needs to be registered and the Care Inspectorate would need more information about what type of support children are being given.  

Legislative definitions of types of services 

It is an offence to operate a care service in Scotland without being registered with the Care Inspectorate.  

Section 47 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 defines the types of services that must be registered with the Care Inspectorate.    

Day care of children service:   

A “day care of children” service  is described in paragraph 13 of Schedule 12  as  “subject to paragraphs 14(b) to 17, a service which consists of any form of care (whether or not provided to any extent in the form of an educational activity), supervised by a responsible person and not excepted from this definition by regulations, provided for children, on premises other than domestic premises, during the day (whether or not it is provided on a regular basis or commences or ends during the hours of daylight).”     

Regulations made under the Act, namely The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Excepted Services) Regulations 2012 (SSI 2012/44) (“the Excepted Services Regulations”), restrict the definition of a day care of children service to those services which have as a primary purpose the provision of care to children.    

Regulation 4 of the Excepted Services Regulations states “There is excepted from the definition of “day care of children” in paragraph 13 of schedule 12 to the Act any service unless its primary purpose is the provision of care to children”.    

Support service:   

A support service is defined by the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 as   

“a service provided, by reason of a person’s vulnerability or need (other than vulnerability or need arising by reason only of that person being of a young age), to that person or to someone who cares for that person by-   

• a local authority;  
• any person under arrangements made by a local authority;  
• a health body; or  
• any person if it includes personal care or personal support. 

Consider whether the ‘vulnerability’ is solely through age. If it is and care is being provided and is provided for more than two hours, then consider if registration as a daycare of children service is more appropriate.   

Consider if the ‘vulnerability’ is through some form of additional support need and ‘care’ is required. If it is, consider registering as a support service. 

Already a registered provider with the Care Inspectorate   

If you are already a registered childcare or support service provider, it might be possible to vary the conditions of your existing service. This is called a variation, as it is varying the existing conditions of your registration with the Care Inspectorate. You can ask for advice on this from our registration team or your inspector.   

Get in touch

The Care Inspectorate is happy to provide guidance to support the development and registering of school holiday, activity and food provision programmes for children and families.  

Please contact our contact centre on 0345 600 9527 or email Care Inspectorate enquiries at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

For advice on registration, you can email our registration team: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.