A Scottish Government Quality Action Plan to ensure quality is at the heart of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) expansion has been published today alongside a report showing the higher the quality of ELC the greater its effect on children’s development.
Commenting on the release of the Quality Action Plan, Minister for Childcare and Early Years Mark McDonald said: “Improving education and closing the attainment gap is the number one priority for this government. That is why we are almost doubling the amount of funded childcare from 600 to 1,140 hours and we have committed to double investment in the sector from £420 million to £840 million.
“We know that this alone isn’t enough. If ELC expansion is to support our ambition of making Scotland the best place in the world to grow up and close the poverty-related attainment gap, we need to guarantee that the funded entitlement is of the highest possible quality.”
The plan sets out 15 actions to strengthen quality childcare provision including:
- Strengthening continuous professional learning for staff and ensuring fair pay and good working conditions
- Promoting greater use of outdoor learning
- Empowering parents to make the choice of ELC setting that is right for their child.
It is the hope of the Scottish Government that this plan will help to emphasise how much Scotland values their well-trained, professional and skilled ELC workforce. Childminders are extremely important to this sector and of course are adept at providing quality ELC as evidenced in the latest
Care Inspectorate ELC Statistics 2016. They play a vital role in giving children the best possible start in life.
“Childminders are crucial within the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector,” said Maggie Simpson, Chief Executive of Scottish Childminding Association. “SCMA represent over 4,500 childminders and on their behalf I welcome this framework that is firmly focused on continuously improving quality. Referencing the aspirations of the Quality Action Plan and to meet the needs of the childminders in Scotland, SCMA is now working with SQA on the development of the Complete Childminding Learning Pathway – a Work Based Award. As the name suggests this is a learning pathway with quality embedded that will enable childminders to demonstrate the quality of the provision they already provide. It also allows childminders to work towards or hold the same level of qualification as an ELC practitioner employed in a group setting.”
“We know we can do more to further strengthen quality across the ELC sector,” added Mark McDonald. “The plan published today contains a range of actions to help achieve this.”
- all children, but especially those from a disadvantaged background, can benefit in terms of social, emotional and educational outcomes from high quality ELC
- compared to those with no experience, children who attended ELC had improved language and cognitive skills
- better educated ELC staff with appropriate training are more likely to improve children’s cognitive outcomes
- fair working conditions which aid staff retention also affected child interactions and stability.
To view the Rapid evidence review: Childcare quality & children’s outcomes
CLICK HERE.