The Executive oversees and provides guidance on the provision of pre-school education by local authorities and their voluntary and private partners. Under ' The Standards in Scotland's Schools Etc Act 2000', local authorities are under a duty to secure a pre-school education place for all three and four year olds whose parents want one. This was achieved in April 2002 and the Executive works with Local Authorities, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIE), the Care Commission and the Scottish Social Services Council to promote high quality provision.
Entitlement
Other key publications include:
From Autumn 2007, every three and four year old in Scotland will be entitled 475 hours of pre-school education a year. Further information on pre-school education is available from the Scottish Childcare Information Service website - Scottish Childcare.
Curriculum
The 'Curriculum Framework for Three to Five Year Olds' currently provides the main guidance for providers about the delivery of pre-school education.
The Scottish Executive is currently working with Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS), Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIE), and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) on 'A Curriculum for Excellence' which will result in a single curriculum for ages 3 to 18. An integral component of Curriculum for Excellence is improving the transition from pre-school to primary through the use of more active learning in Primary 1. The early level of Curriculum for Excellence will encompass both pre-school and Primary 1.
'Building the Curriculum 2', published in 2007, provides guidance on how to ensure that all children in pre-school and primary school settings experience stimulating, effective learning in ways that are appropriate to their needs to enable children and young people to develop their capacities as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.