Chamber and committees

The Self Build Loan Fund was launched in February 2016 and is currently operating as a two year pilot project in the Highland Council area. We will undertake a review over the Fund period to establish if it has delivered against its objectives. This will inform the decision on whether the expand the Fund nationally.

In order to test the Baby Box, its contents and the logistics around registration and delivery, we are running two pilots starting in January 2017.

The pilots will take place in Clackmannanshire and Orkney. These areas have been chosen for their geographical location and the diversity of their populations.

The first 200 babies born across both areas will receive a Baby Box, which will also allow us to gather feedback from parents on the contents of the Box, and how they have used it.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03855 on 3 November 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03854 on 3 November 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Developing the new good design guidance will involve looking at leading practice in Scotland and further afield. It is too early to say which specific countries will be looked at in developing the guidance, although this is likely to encompass countries both within and beyond Europe. Direct input from both the Care Inspectorate, based on latest inspection evidence, and the Scottish Futures Trust, based on their experiences of overseeing development of the ‘Scotland’s Schools of the Future’ programme, will ensure that the guidance developed is of high quality.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03855 on 3 November 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Early Learning and Childcare Strategic Forum

The Early Leaning and Childcare Strategic Forum is chaired by me and has met three times since its inception. It's remit is to help develop the strategy for a high quality and flexible early learning and childcare sector – independent with out of school care - that is affordable and accessible for all. It is scheduled to next meet on 17 November.

 Workforce and Quality Group

The Workforce and Quality group was established in January 2016 to consider a range of issues around ensuring quality of early learning and childcare. The group was formerly the Core Reference Group for Professor Siraj’s independent review of early learning and out of school care workforce, and since January 2016, has discussed and provided advice on issues arising from the recommendations of the review, including the training and qualifications of the workforce and the challenges around expanding the workforce significantly to deliver the 1140 hours expansion from 2020.

 Strategic Evidence Group

The Strategic Evidence Group has completed a mapping of the current evidence landscape to identify current evidence, research and gaps; inform future monitoring and evaluation; and, to commission further research. It has also had input to or oversight of a number of specific projects such as the Financial Review; 2 year olds research; and the ELC Census Development Advisory Group; as well as research undertaken by member organisations.

Through our consultation, A Blueprint for 2020: The Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland, we are seeking views on which funding model would best support our vision for high quality and flexible Early Learning and Childcare provision, which is accessible and affordable for all.

We will publish our response to the consultation in Spring 2017.

On 15 October we launched our consultation , A Blueprint for 2020: The Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland, which will run until 9 January 2017. The Scottish Government will set out its response in Spring 2017.

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to publish another financial review of early learning and childcare, but will continue to monitor local authority expenditure and financial performance.