School age childcare services - regulation review: feasibility study – final options appraisal
This options appraisal summarises findings from a joint Scottish Government and Care Inspectorate feasibility study to consider the future regulation of school age childcare services, aiming to better understand the challenges and whether regulatory change could support sustainability.
10. SWOT Analysis: Model A (A specific definition for school age childcare)
A SWOT analysis has been carried out for each of the three regulatory models using the PESTLE system to clearly show the positive and negative impacts of each option. This highlights the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors which need to be considered.
10.1 Model A – Political Factors
Strengths
- Demonstrates that SG and CI have responded to feedback from stakeholders.
Weaknesses
- Will take time to implement due to level of consultation required as part of legislative change,
- Only partly achieves SG aims as there is no change to status of organised children’s activities.
Opportunities:
- More access to SACC could support achievement of SG aims in relation to lifting families out of poverty and improving children’s outcomes.
Threats
- Changes are not enough to address complaints about a “two tier system”.
10.2 Model A – Economic Factors
Strengths
- Costs of this model likely to be less than other models due to fewer changes to existing regulatory structures
Weaknesses
- Further exploration work and investigation would be required to gain a detailed understanding of associated costs that are aligned with this model
No access to UK childcare benefits to access organised children’s activities
- CI and SSSC resources required to review and develop guidance/requirements for new care type
Opportunities
- Could support expansion of the sector by alleviating a range of barriers highlighted by stakeholders
- Opportunities to expand the workforce, create more job opportunities and make services more sustainable
- Staff migration would be limited due to different qualification requirements. Fewer staff lost to other types of setting
Threats
- Changes to staff qualifications and job roles could possibly lead to changes in terms and conditions and potentially lower pay
- Impact of changes on wider ELC sector
- Staff migration would be limited due to different qualification requirements. Staff unable to progress
10.3 Model A - Social Factors
Strengths
- A separate definition from ELC creates sense of identity and value for SACC sector, and a positive impact on the culture within the sector
- Assurances for families in relation to standards and safeguarding. No changes for children currently attending regulated settings
Weaknesses
- This model does not create new oversight of quality, safety etc. within organised children’s activities sector to reassure families
Opportunities
- Potential for improved perception of SACC sector by other parts of the system e.g. schools
- Opportunity to review current guidance ensuring it remains relevant to the new care type
- SSSC have indicated that a separate definition will enable work to review workforce regulation
- Changes to workforce regulation could have the potential to expand and diversify the workforce
- Opportunity to better match skills/qualifications to needs of children of school age – better experience for children
- Alleviate some of the issues identified around recruiting and retaining staff, esp. in rural areas
Threats
- All age services may choose to change their model of delivery, impacting on families’ choices in relation to their childcare options
- People may be put off applying to work in SACC services if they don’t see their qualifications fitting within the new job roles
10.4 Model A -Technological Factors
Strengths
- SACC-specific data can be more easily identified in CI and SSSC ICT systems
Weaknesses
- Change to CI and SSSC systems needed to accommodate new care type
Opportunities
- None identified
Threats
- None identified
10.5 Model A - Legal Factors
Strengths
- None identified
Weaknesses
- Weaknesses: Direct changes to legislation would be required as well as alignment with any linked legislation
- Further investigation needed by CI about status of services currently providing both SACC and ELC under same registration
- No additional regulation/governance for the organised children’s activities sector
Opportunities
- None identified
Threats
- Possible implications for inspection cycles etc.
10.6 Model A – Environmental Factors
No Environmental Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities or Threats identified.
Contact
Email: schoolagechildcare@gov.scot