A Blueprint for 2020: The Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland

Date: 1st November 2016
Category: Inclusive education

The government are almost doubling the free entitlement in the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) provision to 1140 hours per day by 2020. This consultation will help support the development of these policy approaches.

Alongside the current Governance Review, Scottish Government are using the Blueprint Consultation to seek views on the range of policy choices being faced, including funding models and phasing of provision, as they take forward the commitment to providing 1140 hours per year of early learning and childcare by 2020.

Planning and research work is being undertaken to inform the actions that will drive the required expansion to 1140 hours, including: the commencement in January 2017 of a programme of trials to test new and innovative ELC delivery models across Scotland; development of new leading good design guidance for ELC settings in summer 2017; a recruitment drive across the ELC sector and the development of a Skills Investment Plan for the ELC sector; and an intensive programme of infrastructure investment.

Scottish Government welcome input from the ELC Strategic Forum and others in helping to shape the vision and high level objectives for the expansion as set out in the consultation document.

Responses will be analysed independently and a response to consultation findings will be published in the spring of 2017.