A new report looking at childcare availability and accessibility in nine European countries and Australia showed England as being the second worst, next to France. Scotland was in the top three after two Nordic countries and Wales was mid-table. According to the report by Victoria University in Melbourne, 45% of England is a “childcare desert”,… Continue reading Large parts of UK classed as “childcare deserts”
Regions: Scotland
Two councils in Scotland still to decide on childcare funding rates
Despite extra funding and guidance on paying a sustainable rate for funded early learning and childcare (ELC) being available from the Scottish Government from April, two councils have still not set out what partner providers will be paid in 2024/25. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland has followed up an earlier investigation in May which… Continue reading Two councils in Scotland still to decide on childcare funding rates
Joint Survey of Care Inspectorate Inspection Experiences
In November 2023 NDNA, along with Early Years Scotland (EYS), Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) and Scottish Childminders Association (SCMA) conducted a joint survey which asked providers to share their experiences of Care Inspectorate Inspections. This was in response to a wide range of concerns raised with all organisations about difficult experiences. NDNA took on… Continue reading Joint Survey of Care Inspectorate Inspection Experiences
Scotland’s parties focus on reducing child poverty
With most of the main parties publishing manifestos for Scotland ahead of the General Election on 4 July, NDNA Scotland looks at a round-up of pledges which impact the ELC sector. NDNA has looked at policies from (in alphabetical order) Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Greens, Scottish Labour, Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party. We have… Continue reading Scotland’s parties focus on reducing child poverty
Nurseries in 12 Scottish council areas don’t know their funding rate
Nurseries across Scotland were promised an uplift in Early Learning and Childcare funding from the beginning of April and yet those in 38% of council areas still don’t know what they will receive. According to analysis by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland which looked into data they had requested via the Freedom of Information… Continue reading Nurseries in 12 Scottish council areas don’t know their funding rate
Seven out of ten nurseries in Scotland say they are under funded
The vast majority of private and voluntary nurseries in Scotland say that the local authority funding rate doesn’t cover their costs for delivering early learning and childcare (ELC) places, according National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland. NDNA’s nursery sustainability survey released today found that funding for three and four-year-olds did not cover the costs for… Continue reading Seven out of ten nurseries in Scotland say they are under funded
Nursery Trainee Employment Programme Launches in Scotland
Childcare Works, a programme enabling people to become Trainee Support Workers (TSWs) by offering bespoke introductory childcare training has launched in Scotland. Addressing the Scottish Government’s ambition of ‘No One Left Behind’, the Childcare Works project is funded by East Ayrshire Local Employability Partnership. The programme will commence 11 March and complete 28 June 2024… Continue reading Nursery Trainee Employment Programme Launches in Scotland
Childcare sector requests urgent Scottish Government/Care Inspectorate meeting re inspections
Representative bodies from across Scotland have come together to survey the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector on their views of the work of the regulator Care Inspectorate. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), Early Years Scotland (EYS), Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) and Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) have received a number of contacts from members… Continue reading Childcare sector requests urgent Scottish Government/Care Inspectorate meeting re inspections
Report into expansion shows importance of PVI sector in Scotland
The Scottish Government has published its research mapping for early learning and childcare (ELC) places for one and two-year-olds which shows how vital the private and voluntary sector is for our youngest children. The mapping showed that the private, voluntary and independent sector (PVI) delivered 61% of one-year-old places and 67% of two-year-old places in… Continue reading Report into expansion shows importance of PVI sector in Scotland
Scotland Childcare Works Project
How the Scotland Childcare Works project works Once funding for the project is secured, NDNA Scotland sources participants from specified local authorities across Scotland. Settings supporting the project provide a 12 week work placement for a Trainee Support Worker to work 16 hours a week. Participants receive support spanning 16 weeks including: This project gives settings a chance… Continue reading Scotland Childcare Works Project
Challenges with delivering 1140 hours: Scottish Government’s sustainable rates review
The Scottish Government has published it’s Early learning and childcare: sustainable rates review today (Wednesday 20 December 2023) in which it acknowledges the challenges facing private and voluntary ELC providers. This report is a joint Scottish Government and COSLA evidence-based review of the approach to setting sustainable rates for childcare providers in the private, third… Continue reading Challenges with delivering 1140 hours: Scottish Government’s sustainable rates review
Most Scottish childcare providers getting raw deal from councils
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
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
UNCRC Incorporation Toolkit for members
In January 2024, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 gained Royal Assent, successfully incorporating the UNCRC into Scots Law. As a sector, Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) already take a child’s rights-based approach to working with children, however as time goes on the landscape of children’s… Continue reading UNCRC Incorporation Toolkit for members
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
Introduction to Child Protection
NDNA Scotland training Gain the basic understanding of child protection and safeguarding requirements of all early years practitioners in Scotland. Duration: Half dayWho should attend: All practitioners (in Scotland) who are new to the early years or who need a refresher in child protection. What will I learn? Key topics include: Legislation relating to child protection in… Continue reading Introduction to Child Protection
How good is our Early Learning and Childcare nursery training
NDNA Scotland training Improve your self-evaluation through your understanding of the How Good is Our Early Learning and Childcare document. Duration: Half day Who should attend: This course is aimed at lead practitioners, managers and anyone with an interest in self-evaluation. Level: Intermediate What will I learn?This NDNA childcare course will help you develop your understanding of the ‘How Good… Continue reading How good is our Early Learning and Childcare nursery training
Curriculum for Excellence nursery training
NDNA Scotland training Discover best practice for implementing Curriculum for Excellence. Duration: Half day Who should attend: This course is aimed at all childcare practitioners, particularly those who wish to develop their knowledge of the Curriculum for Excellence.Level: Intermediate What will I learn?This NDNA Scotland childcare course will develop knowledge and provide guidance on implementing the Curriculum for Excellence… Continue reading Curriculum for Excellence nursery training