Best Start - strategic early learning and school age childcare plan 2022 to 2026

Annex B: Scottish Government childcare policy: the story so far

Graphic text below:

2002

Early Learning and Childcare:

Legislation: Standards in Scotland's Schools Act 2000: new duty on councils to provide 412.5 hours free pre-school education a year for 3-4 year olds

2007

Early Learning and Childcare:

Legislation: Free pre-school education increased to 475 hours a year

2013

Early Learning and Childcare:

Consultation: Consultation on proposed Children and Young People Bill

2014

Early Learning and Childcare:

Legislation: Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014: formalises the term 'Early Learning and Childcare' (ELC)

Early Learning and Childcare:

Legislation: Funded ELC increased to 600 hours a year and some 2 year olds become eligible

Early Learning and Childcare:

Commitment: Commitment to increase funded ELC to 1140 hours a year by end of the next Parliament

2015

Early Learning and Childcare:

Legislation: Funded ELC for 2 year olds extended to families eligible for free school meals

2016

Early Learning and Childcare:

Consultation: Consultation on expansion of funded ELC to 1140 hours

2017

Early Learning and Childcare:

Publication: Action plan and quality action plan for 1140 policy published

2018

Early Learning and Childcare:

Consultation: Joint consultation with COSLA on Funding Follows the Child approach

Early Learning and Childcare:

Publication: Publication of Funding Follows the Child and the National Standard

Early Learning and Childcare:

Funding: Multi-year funding agreement between COSLA and Scottish Government agreed

school age childcare:

Commitment: 'Every child, every chance' commits to new support for childcare after school and during holidays

2019

school age childcare:

Consultation: Consultation on Out of School Care in Scotland

2020

Early Learning and Childcare:

Legislation: COVID-19 pandemic delays implementation of 1140

school age childcare:

Funding: Access to Childcare Fund launched to test new models of school age childcare

2021

Early Learning and Childcare:

Publication: School age childcare Progress Report published

Programme for Government 2021-2022 sets out new commitments:

Early Learning and Childcare:

1140 entitlement delivered across Scotland from August 2021

school age childcare:

Commitment: Build a system of school age childcare by the end of this Parliament, providing care before and after school, and all year round

Early Learning and Childcare:

Commitment: Expand funded early learning and childcare for children aged 1 and 2, starting with low income households within this Parliament

2022

Early Learning and Childcare:

Publication: 'Best Start, Bright Futures' sets out how childcare contributes to tackling child poverty

school age childcare:

Funding: £10 million Summer Programme launched across all 32 local authorities, coordinating access to childcare, food, and activities