Best Start - strategic early learning and school age childcare plan 2022 to 2026: island communities impact assessment screening

Step Four - Assessment

• Does your assessment identify any unique impacts on island communities? (Further detail in the Guidance):
  • Demographic
  • Economic
  • Gaelic
  • Social
• Does your assessment identify any potential barriers or wider impacts?
• Are there mitigations already in place for these impacts raised?

As noted above, while the Plan will set out how we intend to work with children, families and our partners in the sector, the Plan will not in itself set out any changes to policy. Nor will it set out detailed delivery or implementation plans for our childcare policies or programmes. On this basis, our assessment is that the publication of this Plan will not introduce any unique impacts on island communities.

Any further developments of policy or implementation plans in pursuit of the four strategic priorities in the Plan will be subject to their own processes of consultation with stakeholders. At that stage, we will undertake work to identify unique impacts on island communities, and will develop and publish formal programme-specific or policy-specific ICIAs where necessary.

Is a full Island Communities Impact Assessment required?

You should now determine whether, in your opinion, your policy, strategy or service is likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities). To form your opinion, the following questions should be considered:

• Are there mitigations in place for the impacts identified and noted above from stakeholders and community consultations? (If further ICIA action is not required, complete the section below and publish).
• Does the evidence show different circumstances or different expectations or needs, or different experiences or outcomes (such as levels of satisfaction, or different rates of participation)?
• Are these different effects likely?
• Are these effects significantly different?
• Could the effect amount to a disadvantage for an island community compared to the mainland or between island groups?
• If your answer is 'no' to the above questions, please complete the box below.
• If the answer is 'yes', an ICIA must be prepared and you should proceed to Step 5.

Our assessment is that the publication of this Plan will not have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities).

Our view is therefore that a full Island Communities Impact Assessment required is not required.

A full Islands Community Impact Assessment is NOT required

In preparing the ICIA, I have formed an opinion that our policy, strategy or service is NOT likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities). The reason for this is detailed below.

Reason for not completing a full Islands Communities Impact Assessment: The publication of Best Start: Strategic early learning and school age childcare plan for Scotland, 2022-26 (the Plan) will set out how we intend to work with children, families and our partners in the sector. However, the Plan will not in itself set out any changes to policy. Nor will it set out detailed delivery or implementation plans for our childcare policies or programmes.

Any further developments of policy or implementation plans in pursuit of the four strategic priorities in the Plan will be subject to their own processes of consultation with stakeholders. Equalities impacts will be considered as part of this, with formal programme-specific or policy-specific ICIAs developed where necessary.

Screening ICIA completed by (name)

Andrew Burke

Position

Early Learning and Childcare Strategic Planning and Evaluation Officer

Signature and date

Andrew Burke, 5 October 2022

ICIA authorised by (we recommend DD level)

Eleanor Passmore

Position

Deputy Director, Early Learning and Childcare Division

Signature and date

Eleanor Passmore, 5 October 2022