Introduction

The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000 gives local authorities a duty to provide a free, part-time pre-school education place for all 3 and 4 year olds, and some 2 year olds. Parents can choose whether their child takes up this place. This legislation came into effect in April 2002.

The Children and Young People Act 2014 introduced the term “early learning and childcare” (ELC) for provision for children aged 0 to school age. Beyond childcare, this recognises a child’s pre-school period as early education – where a young child acquires the skills and knowledge required to succeed in primary school and beyond.

The Act increased the flexibility and amount of free early learning and childcare from 475 to 600 hours per year for all 3 and 4 year olds. It also extended the entitlement to 2 year olds who are looked after, under a kinship care order, or whose parents qualify for certain benefits. These children are entitled to free early learning and childcare from the first term after their second birthday.

The Scottish Government has since committed to almost doubling the number of funded ELC hours. This expansion of funded ELC was originally intended for August 2020, however it was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new date of August 2021 has now been agreed for all 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds to receive 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare. 

Aims of early learning and childcare

The Scottish Government’s aim is to make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up, and to give all children the best possible start in life. It is widely acknowledged that the provision of universally accessible and high quality ELC is a cornerstone for closing the educational attainment gap - and consequent gaps later in the lifecourse, such as pay gaps.

The delivery of an overall system of high quality, flexible, accessible and affordable ELC is central to the Scottish Government’s ambition of eradicating child poverty. Expanding the entitlement to ELC is also seen as one of the most important tools to support long-term inclusive growth in Scotland’s economy.

The Scottish Government’s is commitment to further increasing the funded ELC entitlement to 1140 hours is underpinned by the principles of Quality, Flexibility, Accessibility and Affordability. From August 2020, any setting delivering the funded ELC hours will be required to meet a new National Standard, which includes a national set of quality criteria.

Realising the Ambition: Being Me is the main guidance to providers supporting the development of children from birth and on the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence within early learning and childcare for children aged 3-5. Curriculum for Excellence promotes a coherent and inclusive curriculum from age 3 to 18 for all educational settings. The early level of the curriculum encompasses the two years prior to starting school, and the first year of Primary school.

Realising the Ambition: Being Me 

Realising the Ambition: Being Me builds upon the principles and philosophy of the original Pre-Birth to 3 and Building the Ambition guidance. This new guidance retains the relevant content from the previous guidance, which it replaces, extending and strengthening it in line with current research and evidence about how children develop and learn.

This refreshed early years national practice guidance for Scotland presents key information about the characteristics of child development based on research and evidence. It explores the range of interactions, experiences and spaces we need to provide for babies and young children to help them learn and grow best from their earliest days through to being a young child in early primary school. 

Local authority provision

Local authorities provide early learning and childcare through their education or children’s services departments in a range of settings, including:

• Nursery classes within primary schools
• Nursery schools
• Children and family centres
• Childminders
• Private and Third sector settings

Nursery schools and classes have traditionally been open during only school term time (38 weeks per year), with children and family centres and private and third sector settings usually open throughout the year. However, the Blueprint for 2020: The Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland makes clear that patterns of provision should be better aligned to the needs of the local community so that expansion can support parents and carers to work, training or study. Although attendance patterns vary between local authorities, an increasing number of settings now offer whole-day or part-day sessions or part-day sessions and sessions beyond term time.

All parents and carers in Scotland have the legal right to defer their child’s entry to primary school if they are not yet 5 years old at the beginning of the school year. 

In the current system, the youngest children (those with a January or February birth date) are automatically entitled to an additional year of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) at their nursery, childminder or playgroup, when they defer their primary one start. Those with an August to December birthday can still defer their school start, but have to apply to the local authority to request funded early learning and childcare for that year.

From August 2023, a change in the legislation means that all children who defer will automatically be able to access funded ELC. This legislative change will align the funded ELC more closely with the existing right to defer, for children in this age group. This will allow families to make decisions for their children, based on what they feel is in the best interests of the child, without the financial barrier of additional ELC costs.

Voluntary and private sector provision

To ensure that the funded ELC entitlement is delivered in high quality settings, the sector is working towards the introduction of Funding Follows the Child. Funding follows the child is provider neutral and is underpinned by a National Standard that all providers delivering the funded hours will have to meet – regardless of whether they are in the public, private, third sector, or childminders. This will provide reassurance to parents and carers that any provider offering the funded hours will be able to offer their child a high quality ELC experience. It will also place choice in parents' and carers' hands, enabling them to access their child's funded entitlement from any ELC provider that meets the National Standard. 

In the light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 1140 expansion, the Scottish Government published interim guidance on Funding Follows the Child in August 2020. As progress is made towards the full expansion by August 2021 the Scottish Government will communicate clearly with the sector and with parents about plans to progress to the full implementation of Funding Follows the Child and the National Standard.

Staffing of early learning and childcare

There is a diverse range of staffing models across early learning and childcare settings in Scotland. Generally speaking all staff must be registered with one of two bodies; the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) or the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). Childminders are required to register only with the Care Inspectorate.

Teachers

The term “teacher” refers to a fully qualified teacher who has gained a degree qualification through a university and/or teacher education institute. All Scottish teachers are graduates. The requirements for admissions for teachers in primary, and early learning and childcare, are the same. Many teachers enter the teaching profession through a four year course leading to a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree.

Others attain a first degree followed by a one-year Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) course. Both routes are at Level 10 in the Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework (SCQF). Entrants to teacher qualification courses need to have gained passes in English at Higher level (Grade C or above) and mathematics at Standard Grade (Grade 1 or 2), or equivalent.

Teacher education courses provide teachers with a foundation in the professional skills needed in the general principles of teaching. Teachers in Scotland are required to register with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). They are at first required to meet the standard for initial teacher education, and then the standard for full registration at the end of their probationary period. Additionally, they adhere to the Council’s codes of practice.​

Early Learning and Childcare Practitioners

A manager or lead practitioner holds responsibilities for the overall development, management and quality assurance of the service provision. This includes the supervision of staff and the management of resources.

Managers/lead practitioners must hold one of an approved list of SCQF level 9 (see 2.5 National Qualifications Framework) management qualifications relevant to early learning and childcare.

A practitioner in a daycare service identifies and meets the care, support and learning needs of children. They also contributes to the development and quality assurance of informal learning activities and/or the curriculum. They may further be responsible for the supervision of other workers. Practitioners must hold an appropriate qualification at SCQF level 7. Childminders delivering the funded hours must also hold or be working towards this level of qualification.

A support worker in a daycare service has delegated responsibility for providing care and support to children. A support worker must hold an appropriate qualification at SCQF level 6.

The Scottish Government have been working with all local authorities to ensure that nurseries in Scotland’s 20% most deprived areas will benefit from an equity and excellence lead (an additional graduate). These are highly qualified posts, that can be either a teacher or early years graduate with or working towards, for example, the BA in Childhood Practice. The vast majority of posts are now in place. Further information can be found at on the Childcare Careers Scotland website. 

Legislative references

Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act 2000.

Children and Young People Act 2014.