Early Learning and Childcare Expansion delivery trials: evaluation

1. Background

In November 2015, Scottish Government ( SG) announced its intention to expand the provision of free early learning and childcare ( ELC) from 600 hours to 1140 hours per year by 2020 for all three and four year olds and eligible two year olds.

To inform the national expansion programme, the Scottish Government worked closely with Local Authorities across Scotland to deliver 14 ELC trials in different settings. The aim of these trials was to test out different ways of delivering the 1140 hours, and to provide learning to inform the wider roll-out. The trials were established prior to the development of the SG Blueprint for the expansion of early learning and childcare in Scotland ^[1] .