Early learning and childcare (ELC)

Number of centres providing funded ELC

At the time of the 2024 census, there were 2,575 centres providing funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC), not including childminders. This is a decrease from 2,582 in 2023, and a continued decrease from 2,630 in 2021. As show in Figure 24, the total number of centres is the lowest since 2018. 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 9 and 13 September 2023, the reference week for the census this year.

Figure 24 Centres providing funded early learning and childcare during census week, 2018 to 2024

Registrations for funded ELC

Figure 25 shows that there were 90,321 child registrations in September 2024, a decrease of 2.0% since September 2023 when there were 92,182 registrations. Registrations dropped considerably in 2020 before increasing in 2021 and 2022. However, they have since decreased. A decrease in the number of child registrations is expected, given that National Records of Scotland project the population of children of this age to be decreasing over this period.

Figure 25 Funded registrations and proportion registered for funded early learning and childcare from 2017 to 2024[Note 1]

[Note 1] This is a snapshot of registrations at census week (9-13 September 2024). It does not include children who were registered between census week and the end of December. 
[Note 2] Eligible children are estimated using data from DWP and HMRC on households with an 18 to 36 month old who are in receipt of qualifying benefits to target the offer of funded ELC to these families, combined with information on children eligible for non-economic reasons. This data was not available prior to 2023.
[Note 3] Refers to academic year - 3 and 4 year olds were previously referred to as ‘ante pre-school’ and ‘pre-school’ respectively.
[Note 4] Eligible children are estimated from National Records of Scotland population projections. Around a quarter of two year olds are eligible for funded ELC. For three year olds, only around half of children are eligible at the time of the census. For the majority of local authorities 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 any inaccuracies in the projected population.
[Note 5] Refers to children who are eligible to attend primary school but have deferred entry and remain in funded ELC.
[Note 6] Eligibility figures for deferral are calculated on the assumption that all children born from September to February inclusive are eligible for funded ELC if they defer entry to primary school. 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.

Three and four year-old registrations

The number of three and four year olds registered for funded ELC decreased to 74,591 in 2024 from 76,436 in 2023. 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 at a local authority level.

To calculate the proportion of children registered, the number of eligible children in each age group is estimated using the 2018-based National Records of Scotland population projection figures, the latest available projections. 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. The most recent population projections available were produced in 2018. As the time from their production increases, the accuracy decreases and projections could overestimate or underestimate the true population as, for example, immigration rates or birth rates could differ from what was expected at the time the projections were made. This is one of the reasons uptake rates could look particularly low or high for an area (for example, over 100%).

The estimated uptake rate for eligible three and four year olds has decreased to 95% in 2024, from 97% in 2023. The proportion of three and four year olds registered for funded ELC remained broadly stable between 2017 and 2019, decreasing by less than 1 percentage point. It then decreased to 95% in 2020 (during the Covid-19 pandemic) but increased to the previous level by 2022. However, it has decreased each year since then.

Figure 26 Proportion of population registered for funded ELC, 2017 to 2024

Two year old registrations

The number of two year olds registered for funded ELC has decreased to 6,613 in 2024 from 6,636 in 2023. This represents 13% of all two year olds, the same proportion as in 2023. Before 2023, both the number and proportion of two year olds registered had been increasing annually since 2017, with the exception of 2020 when both measures decreased.

In 2023, estimates of the two year old population eligible for funded ELC were included for the first time, and uptake rates were calculated based on these figures. Further information on this calculation can be found in the 2023 report. From this, the estimated uptake rate for eligible two year olds is 59% in 2024, an increase from 52% in 2023.

Deferred registrations

The number of deferred registrations for funded ELC increased by 2% from 8,554 in 2023 to 8,685 in 2024. Of children eligible for a funded deferral place, 34% were registered for funded ELC in 2024, compared with 33% in 2023. Both the number and proportion of children eligible for deferred entry registered for funded ELC has increased every year since 2018. As of 1st August 2023, all children born before the start of the school year are eligible for an additional year of funded ELC if they defer entry to primary school. Prior to this, children born in January and February were entitled to additional funded ELC, while children born between September and December were funded at the discretion of the local authority. The increase in uptake of funded deferral places is therefore to be expected. Some local authorities began offering the increased entitlement to all children before August 2023, which should be considered when looking at uptake trends both in individual local authorities and nationally. However, it does not appear to be all pilot local authorities who have had the highest uptake in deferral in recent years, or the largest change in the proportion of children who defer entry to primary school.

A breakdown of child registrations by local authority is shown in Figure 27. As described above, estimates of uptake rates should be interpreted with caution due to the potential inaccuracies of the population estimates.

Figure 27 Funded registrations [Note 1] for early learning and childcare by age group, September 2024

Note 1: For Note 1, Note 2, Note 3, Note 4 and Note 5 see footnotes for Figure 25.

Child characteristics

Of the 90,321 children registered for funded ELC in 2024, 10,090 (11%) were recorded as having a home language other than English, Gaelic, Scots or Sign Language, the same proportion as in 2023.

A total of 17,580 children registered for funded ELC (19% of child registrations) had an additional support need (ASN) recorded, an increase from 18% in 2023. 1,710 (2%) of children registered were assessed or declared disabled, the same proportion as in 2023 when 1,620 children registered were assessed or declared disabled.

A total of 10,170 children registered (11% of child registrations) had a support plan in place at the time of the census, the same proportion as in 2023.

Teacher and graduates delivering funded ELC

Figure 28 and Figure 29 show that the total full time equivalent (FTE) of teachers and graduates working to deliver funded ELC was 4,672 in 2024, an increase of 4% from 4,500 in 2023. This is an increase of 44% (1,436 FTE) since 2017.

The FTE of teachers working in funded ELC in 2024 was 679, compared with 702 in 2023, a decrease of 23 FTE (3%).

In 2024 there were 3,993 FTE graduates, other than teachers, with degrees relevant to early years. This is a 5% increase compared with the 3,798 FTE recorded in 2023.

Since 2017, the FTE of teachers has decreased by 26% from 921, while the FTE of graduates has increased by 72% from 2,316. Figure 27 shows the annual change in the FTE of teachers and graduates working to deliver funded ELC from 2017 to 2024. These changes reflect the move to increase the number of graduates with degrees relevant to early years working in ELC.

Figure 28 FTE of teachers and graduates working in funded early learning and childcare from 2017 to 2024

There were also 1,189 FTE funded ELC staff working towards the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) benchmark degree level qualifications for registration as a manager or lead practitioner of a day care of children service. This is a decrease of 15% from 1,406 in 2023, and the lowest since 2018.

This gives a total of 5,860 FTE for teachers, graduates, and those working towards relevant degree level qualifications in 2024, a decrease of 0.8% from 5,906 in 2023, and an increase of 39% from 4,230 in 2017

Figure 29 Teachers, graduate staff, and staff working towards graduate qualifications at centres providing funded early learning and childcare, Full Time Equivalent (FTE), 2017 to 2024

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.

Figure 30 shows the same staff figures for 2024 by local authority.

Figure 30 Teachers, graduate staff, and staff working towards graduate qualifications at centres providing funded early learning and childcare, by local authority, Full Time Equivalent (FTE) and percentage change since 2022, September 2024

For Note 1, Note 2 and Note 3 see footnotes for Figure 29