Question reference: S5W-07417
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 February 2017
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Current status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 8 March 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that inexperienced volunteers and parents are permitted to run childcare businesses and that they can be held accountable for the quality of the (a) care and (b) education provided.
Answer
The Scottish Government is not aware of reports of inexperienced volunteers and parents being permitted to run childcare businesses. Any concerns regarding the standard of early learning and childcare in Scotland should be raised with the Care Inspectorate.
All care services classed as day care of children (including nurseries, children’s centres, crèches, childminders and playgroups) must be registered with the Care Inspectorate if they provide services for over two hours a day and for six days or more each year. The Care Inspectorate has a statutory responsibility to inspect and regulate all registered providers of day care against the ‘National Care Standards for Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16’.