Question reference: S5W-34022
- Asked by: George Adam, MSP for Paisley, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 11 December 2020
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Maree Todd on 14 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on implementation of the expansion of funded early learning and childcare to 1,140 hours.
Answer
Answer The transformational early learning and childcare (ELC) expansion was due to be delivered in August 2020. The expansion will improve educational and developmental outcomes for children, enhance family wellbeing and enable greater employment and training opportunities for parents and carers.
An Audit Scotland report, published in March 2020, confirmed the programme was on track to deliver. When the COVID-19 pandemic impact became clear, the Scottish Government in partnership with local government, took the decision to pause the statutory duty for Local Authorities to deliver the expansion from August this year.
Since the duty was revoked a significant proportion of the programme has continued to be delivered. In November 2020, 14 authorities were offering 1140 hours to all children, and all authorities are offering 1140 hours to some or most children. This high level of delivery has been achieved only through extensive effort and commitment from all local authorities, and their delivery partners.
The ELC Joint Delivery Board commissioned an assessment of readiness to deliver the 1140 hours expansion, taking account of capital, workforce, capacity and other risks. This was supplemented by an independent health check of the expansion programme.
Having carefully reviewed all the evidence the ELC Joint Delivery Board recommended that the statutory duty to deliver 1140 hours of funded ELC should be reinstated with effect from August 2021. This recommendation has been agreed by Scottish Ministers and COSLA Leaders.
I will bring forward the associated legislation before the end of this Parliament.