Views sought on proposed changes to free early learning entitlement

Parents and carers of young children are being encouraged to respond to a Scottish Government survey on proposed national changes to early learning and childcare entitlement.

The Scottish Government has proposed to increase the provision of free early learning and childcare by 2020 from 600 hours to 1,140 hours per year for children who are three or four years old, as well as for two year olds whose parents/carers are on qualifying benefits.

They are conducting a survey to look at how parents would wish to use the increase, with the results being used to guide policy on early years child care provision.

Peter Diamond, the OIC’s head of schools, said: “ In 2014, free childcare provision entitlement  was increased from 475 hours to 600 hours.

“Prior to this we were providing two-and-a-half hour nursery and pre-school sessions five times a week during school terms.  The increase in entitlement led to us developing two different models to deliver the full 600 hours depending on the school circumstances.  These were trialled over the 2014/2015 school year and in the main this has worked well.

“The new Scottish Government proposals will see the current entitlement almost doubled, which will of course present significant challenges and additional pressures on our schools.  It’s important that parents and carers have their say on how the new system will work, so I would encourage all parents and carers, especially those whose children will be attending early learning settings in 2020, to give their views.”

The survey can be accessed using the following link https://response.questback.com/scottishgovernment/childcaresurvey  and closes at the end of July.