2018 Audit Scotland report - Early Learning and childcare, external

Key facts:

600 hours – Funded early learning and childcare (ELC) entitlement from August 2014

1,140 hours – Funded ELC entitlement from August 2020 25 per cent – of two-year-olds estimated to be eligible for funded ELC

£648 million – Allocated to expand funded ELC to 600 hours between 2014/15 and 2017/18

Image source, Audit Scotland/Accounts Commission

£400 million– Scottish Government indicative allocation of capital funding available between 2018/19 and 2020/21 to provide 1,140 hours

£690 million– Councils' initial estimate of capital funding needed between 2018/19 and 2020/21 to provide 1,140 hours

£840 million– Scottish Government indicative figure for annual revenue funding available by 2021/22

£1 billion– Councils' initial estimate of annual revenue spending on funded ELC by 2021/22

Image source, bbc

Auditor General Caroline Gardner says the councils estimates on costs and staff are substanially bigger than the government estimates.

Ms Gardner says there will need to be an expansion in staffing and infrastructure over the next two and a half years and delivery of the 1,140 hours will be difficult to achieve.

Image source, Getty Images

The public spending watchdog has questioned plans to fund increased nursery provision in Scotland.

Audit Scotland said in a report there was a "significant risk" councils would not be able to resource a planned expansion.

The Scottish government has promised to almost double the annual hours in paid-for nursery places to 1,140.

In response to the report, the government repeated its pledge to fully fund the policy.

Read more here.

Auditor General Caroline Gardner says the Scottish government and councils worked well together to oversee expansion, while parents also generally responded positively.

The only negative feedback from parents was a "limited" impact on ability to work due to the timing of childcare arrangement, such as issues with pick-up time, she says.

There is a lack of options appraisal to expand childcare to 1140 hours, Ms Gardner warns.

The expansion to 600 hours lacked baseline data meaning it is difficult to look at cost effectiveness, the Auditor General explains, but she welcomes there is some baseline data ahead of the next expansion.

Image source, bbc

Education and Skills Committee, external convener James Dornan introudces:

• Auditor General Caroline Gardner from Audit Scotland, external
• Anthony Clark from Audit Scotland
• Tricia Meldrum from Audit Scotland
• Rebecca Smallwood from Audit Scotland

They're here to give evidence on Audit Scotland's report on early learning and childcare from, external.

Auditor General Caroline Gardner said: "There are significant risks that councils will not be able to expand funded early learning and childcare (ELC) to 1,140 hours by 2020.

"In particular it will be difficult to increase the infrastructure and workforce to the levels required, in the limited time available.

"The Scottish government should have started detailed planning with councils earlier, given the scale of the changes required."

Image source, Audit Scotland

The report drew attention to a gap between council and government estimates of the cost of the policy.

Councils expect spending on the policy to hit £1bn by 2021-22. The indicative government figure is £840m.

Local authorities have estimated they will need 12,000 whole-time equivalent (WTE) staff, while the government believes between 6,000 and 8,000 WTE staff will be needed by 2020.

The Education and Skills Committee, external begins shortly.

First up MSPs will take evidence on Audit Scotland's report on early learning and childcare from, external:

• Auditor General Caroline Gardner from Audit Scotland, external
• Anthony Clark from Audit Scotland
• Tricia Meldrum from Audit Scotland
• Rebecca Smallwood from Audit Scotland

Image source, Getty Images

Ask the Minister: The Committee will hear evidence on funded childcare and care experienced people:

• Childcare and Early Years Minister Maree Todd
• Michael Chalmers from the Scottish government
• Joe Griffin from the Scottish government
• Donald Henderson from the Scottish government

Read the committee papers here., external

Good morning and welcome to Holyrood Live on Wednesday 21 March 2018.

The Education and Skills Committee will take evidence from Auditor General Caroline Gardner on childcare and then from Childcare Minister Maree Todd.

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor will then mark UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Image source, bbc/PA/Getty images

This week, portfolio Questions focuses on communities, social security and equalities.

MSPs will then debate the EU Continuity Bill for the finaltime with a late decision time of 6pm where it will almost certainly be passed.