Early learning and childcare (ELC)

Number of centres providing funded ELC

At the time of the 2023 census, there were 2,582 centres providing funded early learning and childcare (ELC), not including childminders. This is a decrease from 2,606 in 2022 and a continued decrease from 2,630 in 2021. As shown in Figure 24, the total number of centres is now slightly lower than in 2020. Only centres providing funded ELC at the time of the census are included; there may be additional centres able to provide funded ELC that are not counted here as they did not have any children registered for funded ELC between 11 and 15 September 2023, the reference week for the census this year.

Figure 24 Centres providing funded early learning and childcare during census week, 2017 to 2023

Registrations for funded ELC

Figure 25 shows that there were 92,182 child registrations for funded ELC in September 2023, a decrease of 0.5% since September 2022 when there were 92,615 registrations. Registrations dropped considerably in 2020 before increasing in 2021 and 2022. However, they have still not reached the levels seen between 2017 and 2019. A decrease in the number of child registrations is expected, given that National Records of Scotland projected the population of children of this age to be decreasing over this period and uptake has been close to 100% for children aged 3 and 4.

Figure 25 Funded registrations and proportion registered for funded early learning and childcare from 2017 to 2023 [Note 1]

Note 1: This is a snapshot of registrations at census week (11-15 September 2023). It does not include children who were registered between census week and the end of December.

Note 2: Refers to academic year - 3 and 4 year olds were previously referred to as ‘ante pre-school’ and ‘pre-school’ respectively.

Note 3: Eligible children are estimated from National Records of Scotland population projections. Around a quarter of two year olds are eligible for funded ELC. For three year olds, only around half of children are eligible at the time of the census. For the majority of local authorities children are counted once for each centre they are registered with, so the same child may be counted multiple times if they attend more than one centre. These figures will also be affected by any inaccuracies in the projected population.

Note 4: Refers to children who are eligible to attend primary school but have deferred entry and remain in funded ELC.

Note 5: Eligibility figures for deferral are calculated on the assumption that all children born from September to February inclusive are eligible for funded ELC if they defer entry to primary school. Children born after school commencement date in mid-August can also defer entry to primary school, but they are not included in the calculation for the percentage of those eligible for deferred entry to avoid double counting with the 4 year old category.

Three and four year old registrations

The number of three and four year olds registered for funded ELC decreased to 76,436 in 2023 from 77,974 in 2022. This continues the trend of decreasing numbers of registrations since 85,425 in 2018. Children registered to receive funded ELC at more than one centre may be counted more than once, thereby slightly overestimating true uptake. Children may also attend centres outside of the local authority they live in, which will also affect uptake figures.

To calculate the proportion registered, the number of eligible children in each age group is estimated using the 2018-based National Records of Scotland population projection figures, the latest available projections. These projections are used to estimate the eligible population of each age group at the time of the census. These estimates may not be a truly accurate representation of the population within each age group and local authority, especially in areas that have experienced high population change in recent years. The most recent population projections available were produced in 2018. As the time from their production increases, the accuracy will decrease and projections could overestimate or underestimate the true population if, for example, immigration rates or birth rates differ from what was expected at the time the projections were made. This is one of the reasons uptake rates could look particularly low or high for an area (for example, over 100%), and means that these estimates should be interpreted with caution.

The estimated uptake rate (proportion of children registered) for eligible three and four year olds has decreased to 97% in 2023, from 99% in 2022. The proportion of three and four year olds registered for funded ELC remained broadly stable between 2017 and 2019, decreasing by less than 1%. It then decreased to 95% in 2020 (during the Covid-19 pandemic) but increased to the previous level by 2022.

Two year old registrations

The number of two year olds registered for funded ELC has decreased to 6,636 in 2023 from 7,042 in 2022. This represents 13% of all two year olds, a slight decrease from 14% in 2022. Before this year, both the number and proportion of two year olds registered had been increasing annually since 2017, with the exception of 2020 when both measures decreased.

This year, estimates of the two year old population eligible for funded ELC have been included for the first time, and uptake rates have been calculated based on these figures. Scottish Government now has access to aggregate data on households in Scotland in receipt of the majority of ‘qualifying benefits’ and with a child of the relevant age. Using this new data source, and combining it with information on children who are eligible due to non-economic reasons (see background notes for details on who is eligible), with an element of the overlap of criteria estimated, it has been possible to estimate the eligible two year old population at a national and local authority level. From this, the estimated uptake rate for eligible two year olds is 52% in 2023. Uptake rates calculated in this way are not available for previous years.

Deferred registrations

The number of deferred registrations for funded ELC increased by 22%, from 7,017 in 2022 to 8,554 in 2023. Of children eligible for a funded deferral place, 33% were registered for funded ELC in 2023, compared with 27% in 2022. Both the number and proportion of children eligible for deferred entry registered for funded ELC has increased every year since 2018. As of 1 August 2023, all children born before the start of the school year are eligible for an additional year of funded ELC if they defer entry to primary school. Prior to this, children born in January and February were entitled to additional funded ELC, while children born between September and December were funded at the discretion of the local authority.

A pilot scheme for the increased entitlement to funding was run in five local authorities in 2021 (Angus, Argyll & Bute, Falkirk, Scottish Borders, and Shetland Islands) with an additional five local authorities joining the pilot in 2022 (Aberdeen City, Clackmannanshire, Fife, Glasgow City, and Stirling). A further two local authorities (City of Edinburgh and East Lothian) agreed to fund an additional year outside the pilot scheme. Local authority variations in deferral rates may in part be as a result of whether a local authority was part of a pilot or was funding deferrals prior to the formal eligibility change. It does not, however, appear to be all these local authorities who have had the highest uptake in deferral in recent years, or the largest change in the proportion of children who defer entry to primary school.

A breakdown of child registrations by local authority is shown in Figure 26. As described above, estimates of uptake rates should be interpreted with caution due to the potential inaccuracies of the population estimates.

Figure 26 Funded registrations [Note 1] for early learning and childcare by age group, September 2023

Note 1: For Note 1, Note 2, Note 3, Note 4 and Note 5 see footnotes for Figure 25.

Child characteristics

Of the 92,182 children registered for funded ELC in 2023, 9,930 (11%) were recorded as having a home language other than English, Scots, Gaelic or Sign Language. This is an increase from 10% in 2022.

A total of 16,980 children registered for funded ELC (18% of child registrations) had an additional support need (ASN) recorded, the same proportion as in 2022. 1,620 (2%) of children registered were assessed or declared disabled, the same proportion as in 2022 when 1,410 children registered were assessed or declared disabled.

A total of 9,840 children registered (11% of child registrations) had a support plan in place at the time of the census, an increase from 10% in 2022.

Teacher and graduates delivering funded ELC

Figure 27 and Figure 28 show that the total full time equivalent (FTE) of teachers and graduates working to deliver funded ELC was 4,500 in 2023, an increase of 8% from 4,161 in 2022. This is an increase of 39% (1,264 FTE) since 2017.

The FTE of teachers working in funded ELC in 2023 was 702, compared with 734 in 2022, a decrease of 32 FTE (4%). The 2023 FTE is broadly similar to the FTE of teachers working in ELC in 2021.

In 2023 there were 3,798 FTE graduates, other than teachers, with degrees relevant to early years. This is an 11% increase compared with the 3,427 FTE recorded in 2022.

Since 2017, the FTE of teachers has decreased by 24% from 921, while the FTE of graduates has increased by 64% from 2,316. Figure 27 shows the annual change in the FTE of teachers and graduates working to deliver funded ELC from 2017 to 2023. Progression in professionalising the sector has resulted in an increase in the number of professionals with specialist ELC graduate level qualifications, with general trend in fewer teachers.

Figure 27 FTE of teachers and graduates working in funded early learning and childcare from 2017 to 2023

There were also 1,406 FTE funded ELC staff working towards the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) benchmark degree level qualifications for registration as a manager or lead practitioner of a day care of children service in 2023. This is a decrease of 7% from 1,515 in 2022, and the lowest since 2018.

This gives a total of 5,906 FTE for teachers, graduates, and those working towards relevant degree level qualifications in 2023, an increase of 4% from 5,676 in 2022, and an increase of 40% from 4,230 in 2017.

Figure 28 Teachers, graduate staff, and staff working towards graduate qualifications at centres providing funded early learning and childcare, Full Time Equivalent (FTE), 2017 to 2023

Note 1: GTCS registered teachers and head teachers. Includes teachers in ELC centres, centrally employed teachers, and home visiting teachers.

Note 2: Includes staff that hold either: (i) a degree level benchmark qualification required by the SSSC for registration as a manager/lead practitioner (see background notes for list of benchmark qualifications); (ii) a degree level (SCQF level 9 or above) qualification relevant to early years and are working towards a degree level (SCQF level 9 or above) benchmark qualification required by the SSSC for registration as a manager/lead practitioner; or (iii) a degree level (SCQF level 9 or above) qualification sufficient to meet the registration standards of another regulatory body (e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council, General Medical Council).

Note 3 Staff that do not hold degrees (SCQF level 9 or above) relevant to early years, but are working towards a SSSC benchmark degree level (SCQF level 9 or above) qualification required for registration as a manager/lead practitioner.

Figure 29 shows the FTE of teachers, graduates and those working towards degree level qualifications by local authority. Total FTE decreased in 13 local authorities. The largest percentage decreases were seen in Na h’Eileanan Siar (-28%), Orkney Islands (-16%) and Inverclyde (-15%) while the largest percentage increases were in Scottish Borders (34%), Midlothian (20%), Argyll and Bute (19%) and West Lothian (19%).

Figure 29 Teachers, graduate staff, and staff working towards graduate qualifications at centres providing funded early learning and childcare, by local authority, Full Time Equivalent (FTE) and percentage change since 2022, September 2023

For Note 1, Note 2 and Note 3 see footnotes for Figure 28.