Decisions influencing early learning and childcare use: understanding social policies and social contexts

Footnotes

1 The sixth priority group at higher risk of child poverty is those with children under the age of one. While this research did not recruit for this specifically, six participants did have babies in addition to those eligible for funded ELC.

2 Throughout the remainder of this report ‘parents’ will be used for brevity, but it is intended as reference to ‘parents and carers’.

3 Early learning and childcare expansion - Early education and care - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

4 This includes both ELC services for children aged five and under and school age childcare services. Daycare of children's service applies to services whose primary function is childcare and who operate for 2 hours or more in any one day and for more than 6 days in any one calendar year (as defined in the Public Reform (Scotland) Act 2010). Staff working within these services are required to register with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and must meet qualifications standards including a degree level qualification for all managers.

5 Two-year-olds are also eligible for funded ELC provision where either their parents are in receipt of qualifying benefits, or because either the parents or child has care experience.

6 National Standard for early learning and childcare - Early education and care - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

7 Scottish Government (2018) Exploring parents' views and use of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland

8 Scottish Government (2019) Scottish Study of Early Learning and Childcare: Phase 1 Report (Updated 2021)

Scottish Government (2020) Scottish Study of Early Learning and Childcare: Phase 2 Report (Updated 2021)

Scottish Government (2021) Scottish Study of Early Learning and Childcare: Three-year-olds: Phase 3 Report (Updated 2021)

9 Scottish Government (2017) Drivers and barriers to uptake of Early Learning and Childcare amongst 2 year olds, Edinburgh: Scottish Government

10 Every child, every chance: tackling child poverty delivery plan 2018-2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

11 The sixth priority group at higher risk of child poverty is those with children under the age of one. While this research did not recruit for this specifically, six participants did have babies in addition to those eligible for funded ELC.

12 While legal requirements for physical distancing and limits on gatherings had recently been removed (August 2021), some protective measures remained such as the use of face coverings indoors and the collection of contact details as part of Test and Protect. Additional mitigations for ELC services included 1m physical distancing, limiting contacts for children and staff, staggering pick up and drop off times, and limiting in person visits to settings. The guidance for researchers was also to avoid face-to-face approaches.

13 Respondents did not specify whether this was the main Scottish Government website or the Parent Club website.

14 This could be as a result of the relatively small numbers of childminders who have partnered with local authorities to deliver funded ELC - both the Care Inspectorate(Early Learning and Childcare statistics 2020.pdf (careinspectorate.com) and the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) (Early Learning and Childcare Audit 2021 | SCMA News (childminding.org) noted that low proportions of the childminding workforce were partnered with their local authority, and even fewer were actually delivering funded places.

15 Scottish Government (2021) Perceptions of the impact of childminding services on child, parent and family outcomes: research findings - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)