Schools in Scotland 2022: summary statistics

Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)

Number of centres providing funded ELC

At the time of the census, there were 2,606 centres providing funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC), not including childminders. This is a decrease from 2,630 in 2021, as shown in Table 22. This is the first year since 2014 that the number of centres providing funded ELC has decreased. Only centres providing funded ELC at the time of the census are included; there may be additional centres able to provide funded ELC that are not counted here as they did not have any children registered for it between 12th and 16th September.

Registrations for Funded ELC

Table 23 shows that there were 92,615 child registrations for funded ELC in September 2022, an increase of 1.1% since September 2021 when there were 91,603 registrations. Registrations dropped considerably in 2020, but have increased since, though not to the levels seen between 2017 and 2019.

The number of three and four year-olds registered for funded ELC decreased to 77,974 in 2022 from 78,115 in 2021. This continues the trend of decreasing numbers of registrations since 85,425 in 2018. Children registered to receive funded ELC at more than one centre may be counted more than once, thereby slightly overestimating true uptake. Children may also attend centres outside of the local authority they live in, which will also affect uptake figures.

To calculate the proportion registered, the number of eligible children in each age group is estimated using the 2018-based population projection figures. These projections are used to estimate the eligible population of each age group at the time of the census. These estimates may not be a truly accurate representation of the population within each age group and local authority, especially in areas that have experienced high population change in recent years.

Despite the reduction in the number of registrations for three and four year-olds, the proportion registered increased, with an estimated 99% registered in 2022 (97% in 2021). This is because the estimated population suggests a reduction in the number of children in this age group in Scotland. The proportion of three and four year-olds registered for funded ELC remained broadly stable between 2017 and 2019, decreasing by less than 1%. It then decreased to 95% in 2020, but has now returned to the previous level.

The number of two year-olds registered for funded ELC has increased from 6,474 in 2021 to 7,042 in 2022. This represents 14% of all two year-olds, an increase from 13% in 2021. Both the number and proportion of two year-olds registered has increased annually since 2017, apart from in 2020 when both measures decreased. Both figures are higher in 2022 than in 2017, despite a decrease in estimated population for this age group. It should be noted that registrations for two year-olds for funded ELC will be affected by the proportion of the population eligible for funded ELC. We estimate that around a quarter of two year-olds are eligible for funded ELC through the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and through subsequent secondary legislation which commenced in August 2015. It should be noted, however, that the exact proportion is not currently known. This means that the proportion of eligible two year-olds that are registered for funded ELC cannot be reported. As set out in the Strategic Childcare Plan, we are working with the UK government to both help ensure eligible families are aware of the funded ELC offer and to improve our knowledge of how many families are eligible for funded provision for their two year-old.

The number of deferred registrations for funded ELC increased by 8.6%, from 6,459 in 2021 to 7,017 in 2022. Of children potentially eligible for a funded deferral place, 27% were registered for funded ELC in 2022, compared with 24% in 2021. Both the number and proportion of children eligible for deferred entry registered for funded ELC has increased every year since 2018. In most local authorities, all children born between September and February inclusive are potentially eligible for funded ELC if they defer entry to primary school. Children born in January and February are entitled to additional funded ELC, while children born between September and December are funded at the discretion of the local authority. Ten local authorities (Aberdeen City, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Scottish Borders, Shetland Islands, and Stirling) are currently piloting entitlement to another year of funded ELC for all children whose school start is deferred irrespective of the child’s birthday, while a further two (City of Edinburgh and East Lothian) have agreed to fund an additional year out with the pilot scheme. There may be additional children whose school entry is deferred that are offered funded ELC by their local authority outwith the pilot scheme or agreed policy.

A breakdown of child registrations by local authority is shown in Table 24.

Child characteristics

Of the 92,615 children registered for funded ELC in 2022, 9,090 (10%) were recorded as having a home language other than English, Scots, Gaelic or Sign Language. This is an increase from 9% in 2021.

A total of 16,500 children registered for funded ELC (18% of child registrations) had an additional support need (ASN) recorded, an increase from 16% in 2021. 1,410 (2%) of children registered were assessed or declared disabled, an increase from 1% in 2021.

A total of 9,370 children registered (10% of child registrations) had a support plan in place at the time of the census, an increase from 8% in 2021.

Teacher and graduates delivering funded ELC

Chart 2 and Table 25 show that the total full time equivalent (FTE) of teachers and graduates working to deliver funded ELC was 4,161 in 2022, an increase of 8% from 3,854 in 2021. This is an increase of 29% (924 FTE) since 2017.

The FTE of teachers working in ELC in 2022 was 734, compared with 704 in 2021, an increase of 30 FTE (4%). This increase may, at least in part, be due to a change in procedure to increase the accuracy of reporting of teacher FTE in funded ELC centres in the 2022 ELC census.

In 2022 there were 3,427 FTE graduates, other than teachers, with degrees relevant to early years, a 9% increase compared with 3,150 recorded in 2021.

Since 2017, the FTE of teachers has decreased by 20% from 921, while the FTE of graduates has increased by 48% from 2,316. Chart 2 shows the annual change in the FTE of teachers and graduates working to deliver funded ELC from 2017 to 2022. These changes reflect the move to increase the number of graduates with degrees relevant to early years working in ELC.

There were also 1,515 FTE funded ELC staff working towards the Scottish Social Services Council benchmark degree level qualifications for registration as a manager or lead practitioner of a day care of children service. This is a decrease of 1% from 1,533 in 2021, but an increase of 52% from 994 in 2017. This gives a total of 5,676 FTE for teachers, graduates, and those working towards relevant degree level qualifications in 2022, an increase of 5% from 5,387 in 2021, and an increase of 34% from 4,230 in 2017.

Table 22: Centres providing funded early learning and childcare during census week, 2017 to 2022

Table 23: Funded registrations and proportion registered for funded early learning and childcare from 2017 to 2022(1)

Note 1: This is a snapshot of registrations at census week (12-16 September 2022). It does not include children who were registered between census week and the end of December.

Note 2: Refers to academic year -  3 and 4 year-olds were previously referred to as ‘ante pre-school’ and ‘pre-school’  respectively.

Note 3: Eligible children are estimated from National Records of Scotland population projections. For three year-olds, only around half of children are eligible at the time of the census. Children are counted once for each centre they are registered with, so the same child may be counted multiple times if they attend more than one centre. These figures will also be affected by children who attend centres outside of the local authority they live in, and any inaccuracies in the projected population.

Note 4: Refers to children who are eligible to attend primary school but have deferred entry and remain in funded ELC.

Note 5: Eligibility figures for deferral are calculated on the assumption that all children born from September to February inclusive are potentially eligible for funded ELC if they defer entry to primary school; January and February born children are entitled to the additional year of funded ELC, while for September to December born children, the local authority decides whether to provide it. Children born after school commencement date in mid-August can also defer entry to primary school, but they are not included in the calculation for the percentage of those eligible for deferred entry to avoid double counting with the 4 year-old category.

Table 24: Funded registrations (1) for early learning and childcare by age group, September 2022

For (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) see footnotes for Table 5.2.

Chart 2: FTE of teachers and graduates working in funded early learning and childcare from 2017 to 2022

Table 25: Teachers, graduate staff, and staff working towards graduate qualifications at centres providing funded early learning and childcare, 2017 to 2022

Note 1: GTCS registered teachers and head teachers. Includes teachers in ELC centres, centrally employed teachers, and home visiting teachers.

Note 2: Includes staff that hold either: (i) a degree level benchmark qualification required by the SSSC for registration as a manager/lead practitioner (see background notes for list of benchmark qualifications); (ii) a degree level (SCQF level 9 or above) qualification relevant to early years and are working towards a degree level (SCQF level 9 or above) benchmark qualification required by the SSSC for registration as a manager/lead practitioner; or (iii) a degree level (SCQF level 9 or above) qualification sufficient to meet the registration standards of another regulatory body (e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council).

Note 3: Staff that do not hold degrees (SCQF level 9 or above) relevant to early years, but are working towards a SSSC benchmark degree level (SCQF level 9 or above) qualification required for registration as a manager/lead practitioner.

Table 26: Teachers, graduate staff, and staff working towards graduate qualifications at centres providing funded early learning and childcare, by local authority, September 2022

For (1), (2) and (3) see footnotes for Table 5.4.