Early learning and childcare: statutory guidance - July 2021

Gaelic medium early learning and childcare

209. Early learning and childcare can be provided through the medium of Gaelic. There are no duties on education authorities to provide Gaelic early learning and childcare but they may do so.

210. The Statutory Guidance on Gaelic Education recommends that authorities consider establishing Gaelic early learning and childcare as a step towards GMPE and will be expected to strive for a degree of continuity of GME, in accordance with their Gaelic Language Plan and the National Gaelic Language Plan.

211. Under section 7 of the Education (Scotland) Act 2016 ( the '2016 Act'), parents of children under school age, and who have not yet started to attend a primary school, have a right to request an assessment of the need for Gaelic Medium Primary Education (GMPE), however this does not include early learning and childcare.

212. The Bòrd na Gàidhlig are developing Gaelic medium early learning and childcare guidance to support the aims in the National Gaelic Language Plan. This will be available to education authorities and the wider early learning and childcare sector via the Scottish Government and Bòrd na Gàidhlig websites.