A third of Scottish nursery children already using extra funded hours

New figures based on responses from all 32 local authorities in Scotland, show that one third of three- and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds are already accessing more than the minimum 600 hours to which they are currently entitled.

However, while the figures found that the national position was in line with or ahead of forecast overall, the report also acknowledged there was ‘significant variability’ at local level.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have called for a breakdown of figures at local level (see below).

The figures also found that:

• 214 nurseries have been built, extended or refurbished since March 2018
• the number of three- to- five-year-olds receiving more than 600 hours is 6.6 per cent ahead of forecast
• capacity for 1,140 hours in local authority nurseries is 2.8 per cent ahead of forecast
• the private sector will make a larger contribution than previously forecast, up 4 per cent to 26 per cent

First minister Nicola Sturgeon and children’s minister Maree Todd celebrated the findings with a visit to Sauchie Nursery in Alloa (below) where they met new recruits to the sector and children receiving 1,140 hours of childcare.

Ms Sturgeon said, ‘With less than one year to go many local authorities are making good progress with more than a third of eligible children now accessing expanded childcare and nearly half of additional staff needed in post. That’s major progress but we know the next ten months will see a big effort from everyone to make sure we deliver on time in August. We are confident but we do not underestimate the hard work ahead.’

Head of Sauchie Nursery Lynsey Graham said, ‘Sauchie Nursery has had the excellent opportunity to phase in the delivery of the 1,140 hours of free early leaning and childcare over the last two years - this has ensured the expansion has been developed with the needs of the children and families at the heart of the project.

‘By offering a variety of different models that include longer learning days, extending the year, and working with childminders and private nurseries - we can test each model, evaluate at each stage and aim to develop a service that suits the needs of every family. We continue to strive to improve outcomes and deliver a quality service for all.’

However, Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland, said the figures did not adequately reflect the importance of PVI settings to the expansion.

‘These latest figures from the Scottish Government clearly show that private and voluntary providers are key to the expansion’s success. There is evidence that parents want the flexibility to blend the early learning and childcare approach that works for them, so all sectors need to be fully supported to deliver this policy.

‘The fact that the report still relies heavily on data from local authority settings means that a vital part of the picture is missing. The data in the update shows that the public sector has taken on almost 6 per cent more staff than was expected at this point in time. Meanwhile private settings are facing a recruitment crisis. According to our recent workforce survey 71 per cent of nurseries face difficulties recruiting qualified staff and 62 per cent faced significant challenges retaining them.’

‘NDNA Scotland has worked hard with the Scottish Government and COSLA to improve partnership arrangements for delivering this policy. As a result, we are seeing recognition from councils that private and voluntary providers will have a bigger part to play come August 2020, with a 20 per cent increase in the predicted uptake through partner providers.

‘Providers across Scotland have welcomed the Scottish Government’s ambitious vision to give all children the best start in life but they must keep true to the principles of provider neutrality and parental choice. Working parents need flexibility which the private and voluntary sector has always provided.’

Scottish Liberal Democrats question local variability

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Beatrice Wishart has today called on the Government to reveal local breakdowns of the expansion.

Through a parliamentary question and a freedom of information request, Scottish Liberal Democrats have requested that the national figures are broken down locally.

However, appeals for council-by-council data have previously been denied by the childcare minister.

Ms Wishart said, ‘The Scottish Government reluctantly published national level data on the childcare expansion but they are reluctant to let the public or Parliament see which local authorities are progressing well and which need extra help to deliver.

‘We know that the August 2018 target for additional graduates to join nurseries in the most deprived areas is still being missed. The rollout of free hours for two-year-olds is behind where it needs to be too.

‘Parents will want to know whether nursery places in their area will be available to them or whether the Scottish Government is again making promises it cannot keep.

‘Ministers should not be stonewalling this kind of basic information. Scottish Liberal Democrats worked hard to convince the Scottish Government that investment in early years would pay dividends in closing the poverty-related attainment gap. We will continue to demand better for parents keen to see this policy delivered.’