This month marks three years since funded early learning and
childcare (ELC) was nearly doubled for eligible two-year-olds and
all three and four-year-olds in Scotland.
Scotland remains the only part of the UK to offer 1,140 hours a
year of funded ELC to all 3 and 4-year-olds and eligible
2-year-olds regardless of their parents' working status – putting
children first.
If families paid for this themselves, it would cost them more
than £5,500 per eligible child per year.
Uptake of the Scottish Government's flagship offer remains high,
with 97% of three to four-years-old accessing funded ELC in
2023.
Children and Young People Minister Natalie Don-Innes said:
“Our investment in funded early learning and childcare is vital
to achieving our ambition for a diverse, thriving and sustainable
childcare sector and I'm proud of the progress made through the
1140 expansion so far.
“We are working to eradicate child poverty and improve the lives
of children. This includes increasing uptake of our childcare
offer for two-year-olds, and testing new systems of childcare
through our investment in six Early Adopter Communities, which
are local systems of funded childcare for families who need it
most.
“We have also provided funding of £16 million for a pay uplift to
£12 an hour for staff delivering ELC in the private and third
sectors, and funded a new programme to recruit and retain
childminders. All of this is helping parents back into work,
study or training, which is not only good for their wellbeing,
but good for the economy.
“I am committed to continuing to work together with providers
and local government to safeguard the sector and ensure our
children get the best start in life through access to high
quality funded ELC.”
Background
The Scottish Government's evaluation of 1140 is underway to
measure the impact of the expanded hours on children, with a
final report expected later in 2025.
Early Learning and
Childcare Expansion to 1140 hours: Interim Evaluation Report
(www.gov.scot)
Early learning and
childcare expansion programme: evaluation strategy
(www.gov.scot)
