Setting the Table Guidance: Equality Impact Assessment

Key Findings

The Scottish Government have considered the impact of the update to Setting the Table on people with protected characteristics. The Scottish Government have also given due regard to the ‘needs’ of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). The ‘needs’ are to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation; advance equality of opportunity; and foster good relations. The Scottish Government find the following impacts:

Characteristic: Age

There are not considered to be any areas of the update to Setting the Table that could disproportionately impact people with this protected characteristic. The update to Setting the Table does not include any changes to existing policy, or set out any changes to current expectations on ELC providers (as part of the Scottish Government’s expansion to 1,140 funded hours of ELC) to deliver a free meal to all eligible children aged 0-5 as part of the ELC day (in line with Quality Criteria 10 of the National Standard).

PSED: Based on the above, it is not expected that there will be any impact on the needs of the Public Sector Equality Duty regarding Age.

Characteristic: Disability

In relation to the protected characteristic of disability, it is expected that the updated Setting the Table will impact positively on children with disabilities. This is because the updated guidance contains revised advice for ELC providers on how best to ensure that all eligible children aged 0-5 in Scotland, including those with disabilities or additional support needs (ASN), are able to access a healthy and nutritious meal as part of their ELC day. Data on income inequality (Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2020-23 (data.gov.scot)) which highlights the intersection between poverty and the protected, disability (noting that poverty is measured at a household level, and that poverty rates remain higher for households in which somebody is disabled compared to those where no-one is disabled), can also be used as a lens to consider the potential positive impact of the free meal offer as part of the expansion to 1,140 hours of funded ELC for children with disabilities.

PSED: Based on the above, it is expected that the updated Setting the Table will help eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation of children with disabilities, as well as advancing equality of opportunity. There is however no evidence to suggest that the update to Setting the Table will help promote good relations among and between disabled and non-disabled people

Characteristic: Sex

There are not considered to be any areas of the update to Setting the Table that could disproportionately impact people with this protected characteristic. The update to Setting the Table does not include any changes to existing policy, or set out any changes to current expectations on ELC providers, as above.

PSED: Based on the above, it is not expected that there will be any impact on the needs of the Public Sector Equality Duty regarding sex.

Characteristic: Gender reassignment

There are not considered to be any areas of the update to Setting the Table that could disproportionately impact people with this protected characteristic. The update to Setting the Table does not include any changes to existing policy, or set out any changes to current expectations on ELC providers, as above.

PSED: Based on the above, it is not expected that there will be any impact on the needs of the Public Sector Equality Duty regarding gender reassignment.

Characteristic: Pregnancy and Maternity

There are not considered to be any areas of the update to Setting the Table that could disproportionately impact people with this protected characteristic. The update to Setting the Table does not include any changes to existing policy, or set out any changes to current expectations on ELC providers, as above.

PSED: Based on the above, it is not expected that there will be any impact on the needs of the Public Sector Equality Duty regarding pregnancy and maternity.

Characteristic: Race

In relation to the protected characteristic of race, it is expected that the updated Setting the Table will impact positively on the basis of race. This is because the updated guidance contains revised advice for ELC providers on how best to ensure that all eligible children aged 0-5 in Scotland, including those from minority ethnic groups, are able to access a healthy and nutritious meal as part of their ELC day. Data on income inequality (Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2020-23 (data.gov.scot)) which highlights the intersections between poverty and the protected characteristic, race (noting that poverty is measured at a household level) also found that over the five year period 2018-23, people from non-white minority ethnic groups were more likely to be in relative poverty after housing costs compared to those from the ‘White - British’ and ‘White - Other’ groups; reinforcing the potential positive impact of the free meal offer as part of the expansion to 1,140 hours of funded ELC for children from minority ethnic groups.

PSED: Based on the above, it is expected that the update Setting the Table will help eliminate unlawful discrimination and advance equality of opportunity on the basis of race, as well as promoting good race relations.

Characteristic: Religion or belief

In relation to the protected characteristic of religion of belief, it is expected that the updated Setting the Table will impact positively on the basis of religion or belief. This is because the updated guidance contains revised advice for ELC providers on how to best to ensure that all eligible children aged 0-5 in Scotland, including those with alternative religions or belief systems, are able to access a healthy and nutritious meal as part of their ELC day. Data on income inequality (Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2020-23 (data.gov.scot)) which highlights the intersections between poverty and the protected characteristic, religion or belief (noting that poverty is measured at a household level) found that over the five year period 2018-23, Muslim adults were more likely to be in relative poverty (61%, 40,000 each year) than adults overall (19%), after housing costs were taken into account; reinforcing the potential positive impact of the free meal offer a part of the expansion to 1,140 hours of funded ELC for children from alternative religions or belief systems.

PSED: Based on the above, it is expected that the update Setting the Table will help eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and promote good race relations on the basis of religion or belief.

Characteristic: Sexual Orientation

There are not considered to be any areas of the update to Setting the Table that could disproportionately impact people with this protected characteristic. The update to Setting the Table does not include any changes to existing policy, or set out any changes to current expectations on ELC providers, as above.

PSED: Based on the above, it is not expected that there will be any impact on the needs of the Public Sector Equality Duty regarding sexual orientation.

Characteristic: Marriage and Civil Partnership

There are not considered to be any areas of the update to Setting the Table that could disproportionately impact people with this protected characteristic. The update to Setting the Table does not include any changes to existing policy, or set out any changes to current expectations on ELC providers, as above.

PSED: Based on the above, it is not expected that there will be any impact on the needs of the Public Sector Equality Duty regarding marriage and civil partnership.