Early learning and childcare expansion - learning and wellbeing project: EQIA

Scope of this EQIA

This EQIA considered the potential impacts of the ELC expansion policy on the outcomes of children with protected characteristics in ELC, to identify possible opportunities to advance equalities of outcomes for children with protected characteristics and to identify potential opportunities to promote good relations.

A number of further EQIAs have been published alongside this one to explore other elements of the funded ELC expansion programme, including:

• Uptake, Eligibility and Engagement: considering the impacts on families of increasing the statutory entitlement to 1140 hours of funded ELC and modifying the current minimum and maximum session’s lengths. This EQIA also explores any impacts the introduction of funding follows the child, underpinned by a provider neutral national standard, will have on families with a protected characteristic;
• Workforce Capacity: considering the barriers to taking up employment in the ELC sector and diversifying the workforce; and,
• Two year old eligibility: considering how proposed changes to the income threshold impacts the eligible population.

In addition, we are undertaking a Fairer Scotland Duty impact assessment for the expansion programme. This will assess the impact of the increase in the entitlement to funded ELC on families facing socio-economic disadvantage.