Report - Early Learning and Childcare

Date: 9th October 2018
Category: Social security and childcare
Author:

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Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) has launched a new report which gives an overview of the current state of professional childminding services in Scotland to deliver Early Learning and Childcare (ELC).

The report is based on date gathered by SCMA from each local authority in Scotland. Findings suggest that potentially thousands of high-quality childminding places are not being considered as an option for parents.

Key findings include:

There are 5,124 professional childminders in Scotland. Only 12 per cent of this workforce have been approved by local authorities to deliver funded ELC to eligible two-year olds.

11,000 potential places for funded ELC for eligible two to five-year olds are being overlooked by local authorities in Scotland – a high-quality, untapped resource in times of austerity.

Although 639 childminders are approved by local authorities in Scotland to deliver funded ELC for eligible two-year olds the fact is that very few are delivering funded ELC despite their high grades.

119 childminders in Scotland are approved by local authorities in Scotland to deliver funded ELC for eligible three and four-year olds.

• Read the report in full here.