The Scottish Government has issued updated
early learning and childcare (ELC) statutory guidance to education authorities, which is also applicable to those childminders, private and third sector providers who are involved in the delivery of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC).
This statutory guidance applies
from 1 August 2021 and replaces the previous (2014) guidance. It should be read in connection with the legislation to which it relates.
What are the changes?
The key legislative and policy developments since 2014 that have now been incorporated are:
- the legislation to increase the statutory funded ELC entitlement to 1140 hours
- the underpinning legislation for the delivery of ELC including the changed length of an ELC session to 10 hours or less from 1 August 2019
- the introduction of Funding Follows the Child and the National Standard on a non-legislative basis
- the changes to ELC eligibility for deferred children from 1 August 2023, and
- the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill that was approved by the Scottish Parliament on 16 March 2021.
For further information, childminders should refer to the letter from Scottish Government that was emailed yesterday (Tuesday 13 July) via the Care Inspectorate Provider Update. You can also view the letter
here.
Any queries relating to the updated guidance can be emailed to
ELCPartnershipForum@gov.scot.