School age childcare services - regulation review: feasibility study – final options appraisal

14. Conclusion and Next Steps

This paper is the conclusion of a six month joint feasibility study between the Scottish Government and the Care Inspectorate. The study has explored whether regulatory change is needed to support the existing SACC sector, the implications of any such changes, and what further developments might be required if the sector was expanded to include a wider range of services.

Through engagement with a range of stakeholders, the feasibility study team has developed a range of draft regulatory models for a future system of SACC. The three models which seem, from the evidence available, to be the most feasible to implement and which could be explored further are:

• Model A - Creating a new specific definition for SACC
• Model B - Extending regulation to cover holiday activity provision
• Model C - Introducing a new oversight process for organised children’s activities

Each of these models could operate in isolation to deliver change which might result in better outcomes for providers and parents to differing degrees. All options would require resource, funding and would take varying lengths of time to implement. It is important to highlight that no model on its own would address all of the issues, instead it would be better to think of the models as complementary or as part of a phased approach to change.

This paper does not seek to make a recommendation on a preferred option, as it is clear that further work will be required to better understand the implications of adopting each model. The team has highlighted specific next steps which would be required to develop each of the models. However, it is clear that a significant element of this will be to try and estimate the likely costs, resource requirements and timescales of choosing one (or more) of the models as well as the likely impacts and possible unintended consequences.

Once there is clarity on any preferred option(s) which might be taken forward it will be possible for the SACC Programme to start planning out the next stage of this process and commence engagement with key stakeholders.