The vast majority of local authorities are paying private providers a smaller proportion of their Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) budgets for the hours of funded ELC they are delivering. Across Scotland, councils source an average of 28.3% of their funded hours from partner providers like private and voluntary nurseries or childminders. By contrast councils… Continue reading Most Scottish childcare providers getting raw deal from councils
Regions: Scotland
Scotland’s Programme for Government: extending funded ELC offer
Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf announced his plans for extending the funded childcare policy in his first programme for Government speech. He will accelerate the expansion of the two-year-old offer by starting to phase in families with two-year-olds from next year, focusing on tackling child poverty. This will be subject to families meeting specific criteria… Continue reading Scotland’s Programme for Government: extending funded ELC offer
Scottish ELC: only three Local Authorities are increasing funding in line with rising costs
According to an investigation by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland, only two local authorities have reported they will be increasing their early learning and childcare entitlement funding at the same rate as providers’ rising costs. Childcare businesses in around a third of local authority areas begin the new academic year without knowing how much… Continue reading Scottish ELC: only three Local Authorities are increasing funding in line with rising costs
Staff turnover 29% in Scottish private nurseries
New data published this week revealed that staff turnover in private nurseries in Scotland is shockingly high at 29% compared with 11% in the public sector. The stats, published by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) in its Movement of Day Care of Children Staff Report 2023, backs up the evidence that NDNA Scotland has… Continue reading Staff turnover 29% in Scottish private nurseries
New First Minister elected and Education appointments made
Scottish National Party members elected MP for Glasgow Pollok, Humza Yousaf, as their new leader, who was officially sworn in as First Minister last week (29 March). During his campaign to become First Minister, Mr Yousaf suggested he would pursue an expansion of the current childcare offer. NDNA Scotland’s Chief Executive Purnima Tanuku OBE responded… Continue reading New First Minister elected and Education appointments made
Scottish Government consultation report suggests improvements
The Scottish Government has published its response and findings of the Consultation on Inspection of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and School Age Childcare Services in Scotland. The report reflected providers’ concerns about the inspection process and echoed their desires for a more streamlined system, with greater clarity, that could be supportive and reduce burdens… Continue reading Scottish Government consultation report suggests improvements
Meet the Minister at NDNA’s Annual Nursery Conference
Children, Families and Wellbeing Minister Claire Coutinho will be attending National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA)’s conference in June. The MP for East Surrey, whose brief includes early years and childcare, will be delivering her keynote speech at the Shaping the Future of Childcare: Making the First Five Years Count conference on Friday 9 June. Delegates… Continue reading Meet the Minister at NDNA’s Annual Nursery Conference
ELC charities write to SNP Leadership candidates to continue to prioritise ELC
NDNA have sent a joint letter with Early Years Scotland (EYS) and Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) to the three candidates for the SNP Leadership and First Minister. The letter to Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch; Humza Yousaf, MSP for Glasgow Pollok; and Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, highlights the collective… Continue reading ELC charities write to SNP Leadership candidates to continue to prioritise ELC
Women 7 times more likely to be out of work due to caring commitments: TUC finds
The analysis of official statistics – published at the annual Trades Union Congress women’s conference (8 March) – finds that more than 1.46 million women are unable to work alongside their family commitments, compared to around 230,000 men. New TUC analysis finds more than 1.46 million women are kept out of the labour market because… Continue reading Women 7 times more likely to be out of work due to caring commitments: TUC finds
Minister disputes that the ELC sector is in crisis
A debate in Holyrood initiated by Scottish Conservatives discussed the future of early learning and childcare in Scotland. The Minister for Children and Young People Clare Haughey rejected claims from MSPs that the ELC sector was in crisis. Ministers discussed funded childcare in light of concerns raised by nurseries on the unfairness of the 1,140 hours… Continue reading Minister disputes that the ELC sector is in crisis
“Beat the Budget” tickets for NDNA’s Annual Nursery Conference
Today (17 Jan) National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) launches its annual national nursery conference with reduced price tickets. A total of 50 cheaper “Beat the Budget” tickets for the Shaping the Future of Childcare: Making the First Five Years Count conference on Friday 9 June are available on a first come first served basis. Half… Continue reading “Beat the Budget” tickets for NDNA’s Annual Nursery Conference
NDNA launches cost of delivery survey for nurseries
NDNA is asking the nursery and early years sector across England, Scotland and Wales to fill in a short survey asking key questions to see the impact of rising costs on childcare businesses and charities. As providers face a number of pressures the design of the survey has been cut down to minimise the number… Continue reading NDNA launches cost of delivery survey for nurseries
Autumn Statement: no additional support for nursery sector
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt gave his Autumn Statement in Parliament today announcing no sector-specific support for nursery businesses. From April 2023, the National Living Wage is set to rise again by 9.7%, with minimum wage for 21 and 22 year olds increasing by 10.9%. The education budget will increase by £2.3bn but there was no mention… Continue reading Autumn Statement: no additional support for nursery sector
Education Children and Young People Committee calls for mapping exercise
The Education, Children and Young People Committee has written to the Cabinet Secretary, Shirley Anne Somerville to request a mapping exercise to establish the impact of movement of staff from PVI to Local Authority settings on the success of the delivery of the 1140 hours policy. This decision follows on from NDNA’s Director of Policy… Continue reading Education Children and Young People Committee calls for mapping exercise
Local Authority admit that ELC funding model isn’t fair on PVI providers
The Education, Children and Young People Committee met this week to discuss the funding for Early Learning and Childcare as part of their pre-budget scrutiny into the Early Learning and Childcare 1140 hours policy. The most recent session, held on 25 October, took evidence from representatives from three local authorities on funding for early learning… Continue reading Local Authority admit that ELC funding model isn’t fair on PVI providers
Childcare businesses must be classed as vulnerable
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy headed by the new Secretary of State Jacob Rees-Mogg have announced a package of support for businesses, households and the public sector to alleviate the pressure of energy bills. The package has revealed a new Government Energy Bill Relief Scheme for non-domestic customers which will provide a… Continue reading Childcare businesses must be classed as vulnerable
Queen’s Funeral and Bank Holiday 19 September – Q&A for nurseries
The Government announced the date of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will be Monday 19 September and will be a Bank Holiday. Today the Department for Education has issued guidance for educational settings regarding the closure. Scottish Government issued this guidance. Welsh Government has said opening is down to the discretion of individual settings. It’s vital your… Continue reading Queen’s Funeral and Bank Holiday 19 September – Q&A for nurseries
PM announces support for businesses with energy bills
Prime Minister Liz Truss announced that she will put support in place from October to assist all businesses with their energy costs for six months. This will be “equivalent” to the support for householders, which will mean that a “typical household” will pay no more than £2,500 in energy bills for the next two years.… Continue reading PM announces support for businesses with energy bills
Tax-Free Childcare: Parents only using half of accounts
The Government has published its latest statistics for Tax-Free Childcare showing that half of all open accounts are not even used. There was a dip in numbers of people using TFC in June but otherwise more people are using the support than previously. However, only 50% of open accounts were used in April which means… Continue reading Tax-Free Childcare: Parents only using half of accounts
Half of Scottish nurseries still don’t know funding rates for next week
Nearly half of councils in Scotland (47%) have yet to make a decision on the hourly rates they will pay to early learning and childcare (ELC) providers from next week, according to information provided to National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA). Responding to an FOI request, 15 councils said they had not made a decision about… Continue reading Half of Scottish nurseries still don’t know funding rates for next week