Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government published an evaluation of the fourteen Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) delivery trials in May 2018 (published here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/evaluation-early-learning-childcare-expansion-delivery-trials/ ). These trials have now concluded and the findings from the evaluation have been used to learn lessons for the future roll out of the expansion programme.

The longer term monitoring and evaluation strategy of the expansion of ELC to 1140 hours has drawn upon independent advice (published here: http://www.healthscotland.scot/publications/evaluability-assessment-of-the-expansion-of-early-learning-and-childcare ). The first evaluation report was published in December 2017 ( http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/12/5250 ) and set out a number of baseline indicators on quality, flexibility, accessibility and affordability. We will continue to use and refine these indicators as the expansion programme progresses.

In August 2018, the Scottish Government commissioned the first phase of a bespoke, long term evaluation of the ELC expansion programme (known as the Scottish Study of Early Learning and Childcare) which is currently collecting baseline data from a sample of eligible two year old children and parents, across 18 local authorities in Scotland. These children will have received 600 hours or less of funded ELC provision. This baseline data will include measures of the child’s cognitive development as well as social, emotional and behavioural development. Parent outcomes will include measures of parental health and wellbeing as well as uptake of work, training or study. A report providing analysis of the baseline data collected will be published by the Scottish Government in 2020.