Summary statistics for schools in Scotland no. 8: 2017 edition

Chapter 5: Early Learning and Childcare

• 99% of 3 & 4 year olds are registered for LA funded ELC (99% in 2016)
• 10% of 2 year olds are registered for LA funded ELC (9% in 2016)

Table 5.1 shows that there were 95,893 registrations for ELC local authority funded places in September 2017 (96,961 in 2016). This suggests around 99% of eligible 3 and 4 year olds were registered (99% in 2016). Children registered to receive local authority funded ELC at more than one centre may be counted more than once, and so this will overestimate true uptake. Three year olds accessing a funded place prior to the term after their third birthday will also overestimate this figure.

Table 5.1: Funded registrations⁽¹⁾ for early learning and childcare at local authority and partnership centres, September 2017

(1) This is a snapshot of registrations at census week (18-22 September 2017). It does not include children who were registered between census week and the end of December.

(2) Refers to academic year - 3 and 4 year olds were previously referred to as 'ante pre-school' and 'pre-school' respectively.

(3) Eligible children are estimated from National Records of Scotland population projections. For 3 year olds, eligibility is assumed as at the term after the child's 3rd birthday. Uptake rates may exceed 100% due to: children registered in more than one setting; children attending a setting in a different local authority to where they live; three year olds accessing a funded place prior to the term after their third birthday; and the inherent uncertainty of the population projections used to estimate uptake, particularly in small areas.

(4) Refers to children who are eligible to attend primary school but have deferred entry and remain in ELC.

Ten per cent of 2 year olds are registered for ELC, compared with 9 per cent in 2016. Around a quarter of 2 year olds are now eligible for funded ELC through the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and through subsequent secondary legislation which commenced in August 2015.

Table 5.2, shows that there were 921 FTE teachers working in ELC at the time of the census, compared to 985 in 2016.

The ELC graduate workforce has changed in recent years. Alongside the Professional Development Award, the introduction of the BA Childhood Practice in 2009 has increased the number of non-teacher graduates who have specialist early years expertise and knowledge. As a result, teachers now only form part of the ELC graduate workforce. Data on the FTE and job type of graduate staff working in ELC with degree level qualifications (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 9 or above) relevant to early years, other than teachers, was collected and published here for the first time this year. See the background notes at the end of this publication for more information about the qualifications that are included in the definition of a graduate.

Data on ELC staff that do not hold degrees (at SCQF level 9 or above) relevant to early years, but who were working towards the benchmark degree level (SCQF level 9 or above) qualifications required for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as a manager/lead practitioner, were also collected for the first time. See the background notes for a list of the SSSC benchmark degree level qualifications required for registration as a manager/lead practitioner.

Table 5.2 shows that, in addition to teachers, there were 2,074 FTE graduates working in ELC with degree level qualifications (SCQF level 9 or above) relevant to early years; and the FTE of ELC staff working towards the SSSC benchmark degree level qualifications required for registration as a manager / lead practitioner was 1,011.

The FTEs of graduates are broken down further into categories by qualification held, (including the FTE of graduates that have the SSSC benchmark qualifications required for registration as a manager lead/practitioner), in Table 13 in the additional early learning and childcare tables published alongside this publication.

Table 5.2: FTE of teachers, graduate staff, and staff working towards graduate qualifications at centres providing funded early learning and childcare, by local authority

(1) General Teaching Council for Scotland registered teachers. Includes teachers in ELC centres, centrally employed teachers, and home visiting teachers.

(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).

(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.

(4) The figures for graduates and working towards graduate qualifications in Falkirk were corrected in December 2018. Prior to this correction, the Falkirk figure for graduates was 306 and the figure for working towards graduate qualifications was 6. This has also affected the Scotland figures. Prior to this correction, the Scotland figure for graduates was 2,316 and the figure for working towards graduate qualifications was 994. More information on this error is available in the background notes changes to data section.

Table 5.3 shows the characteristics of teachers in ELC. The vast majority of teachers (94%) are female, and the average age of teachers is 45. Two-thirds of ELC teachers work part-time in ELC.

Table 5.3: ELC Teacher characteristics percentages⁽¹⁾, 2017

(1) Figures are based on headcount

(2) Mode of working refers to work within the ELC sector only. Some teachers that work part-time in ELC may be full-time teachers that also teach in a school.

Chart 2 shows the age profile of General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) registered ELC teachers, as at September 2017. The number of teachers generally increases with age up to mid-thirties, before decreasing sharply at age 60.

Chart 2: Age profile of GTCS registered early learning and childcare teachers