Regulation of Early Education and Childcare

Chapter 7: Conclusion

This paper reflects the complexity and vital importance of regulation of early years education and childcare. Issues have been dealt with in some detail because we should not, and know many readers will not, be satisfied with superficial analysis.

Some organisations will want to respond to every point and we welcome this. But this is a consultation exercise, not an examination. It is not necessary to answer every question. We particularly hope that parents will respond on the points where they can bring their own experience to bear. If you have employed a nanny, could the Government realistically have done more to help you make the right choice (see consultation point 3)? If you have children aged over seven do you think that their childcare needs to be regulated and, if so, how best could this be done (see consultation point 5)? If you have a child with special needs how best can we help ensure well-being while in childcare while not setting standards so excessively high that you have no access to childcare at all (see consultation point 8)? These are the kinds of issues that parents face daily. We need your experiences and insights to help us meet the challenge of regulating childcare in the new millennium.

As a reminder this consultation paper has considered: in Chapter 3: What to Regulate, whether the current scope of the regulatory system as regards the types of provision which are covered by regulation and the age range of children for whom provision is regulated, is correct; in Chapter 4: How to Regulate, how the varying approaches to registration and inspection of early education and childcare might be brought closer together; in Chapter 5: Standards: Staff and Space Ratios, how the different sets of standards for public and private/voluntary provision might be harmonised so that provision of similar type is subject to the same standards; and in Chapter 6: Standards: Staff Qualifications and the Role of Teachers in Pre-school Education, , how the different sets of standards for staff qualifications for public and private/voluntary provision, particularly in the context of pre-school education, might be harmonised.

These issues have been considered against the three key aims set out in the first chapter:

to ensure children's safety; to ensure that children's experience in early education and childcare promotes their personal and social development as well as being enjoyable and stimulating; and to ensure that the regulatory burden is not disproportionate and that provision of similar types is subject to similar regulation.

In some places we have set out thinking on the best way forward. In others we have sought comments without giving initial views. On all these issues we are anxious to gather opinions and advice.

How to respond

To help us analyse all the responses fully in the time available, please keep responses as succinct as possible and indicate clearly to which consultation point you are responding. For convenience, the various consultation points raised in the document are summarised below.

The closing date for responses is 30 June 1999.

Please send your comments to:

Peter Willman Scottish Office Education and Industry Department Area 2-B(N) Victoria Quay EDINBURGH EH6 6QQ

Any queries arising from this document may be addressed to Mr Willman (Tel: 0131-244 0977). Comments or queries can also be e-mailed to: peter.willman@scotland.gov.uk

A limited supply of further copies of this document is available from:

Jared Squirrell Scottish Office Education and Industry Department Area 2-B(N) Victoria Quay EDINBURGH EH6 6QQ

Telephone: 0131-244 7028 or e-mail: jared.squirrell@scotland.gov.uk