The Care Inspectorate has published a new report, which finds that “children across Scotland are benefiting from an expansion of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) places for children aged between two and four.
However, the report also highlights that more could be done to support younger children, including two-year olds, into ELC. SCMA believe that childminding services – that already provide high quality, flexible care and support – are best placed to care for our youngest children.
The Care Inspectorate has reinforced SCMA’s plea for more local authorities to work in partnership with childminding services to offer high quality funded ELC places for local families with young children.
The report calls for childminders to support the expansion of funded ELC through increased use of childminding places: “While some local authorities have been commissioning childminders to provide funded support, there is scope for other local authorities to do this too.”
Karen Reid, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate said: “Children across Scotland benefit immensely from high quality Early Learning and Childcare. This enables children to have the best start in life and prepares them for their learning journey throughout school and beyond.
“Our evidence suggests there is scope for local authorities to further and better involve the voluntary and private sector in the specialist provision needed to support eligible two-year-olds, some of whom have complex needs.
“Childminders provide small-group, family-based settings which are beneficial for some children, and so there is scope to involve them in supporting expansion further.”
The Care Inspectorate also condemns local authorities and their lack of consultation with parents ahead of planning for the expansion of funded ELC. The report states “There is limited evidence that local authority consultation with parents has led to an increase in the availability of childminders as a choice for funded ELC.”
Read the Care Inspectorate’s
Early Learning and Childcare report in full.
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