Summary Statistics For Schools In Scotland 2021

Chapter 5: Early Learning and Childcare

97% of eligible three and four year olds were registered for funded ELC (95% in 2020)

13% of two year olds were registered for funded ELC (9% in 2020)

Table 5.1 shows that there were 91,603 registrations for funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) in September 2021, an increase of 1.6% since September 2020 when there were 90,126 registrations. Uptake of funded ELC for eligible three and four year olds has also increased, with an estimated 97% registered (95% in 2020). Children registered to receive funded ELC at more than one centre may be counted more than once, so this will slightly overestimate true uptake. Children may also attend centres outside of the local authority they live in, which would also affect these figures.

The number of two year olds registered has increased from 4,863 in 2020 to 6,474 in 2021. This represents 13% of all two year olds, an increase from 9% in 2020. It should be noted that the proportion of the two year old population registered will be affected by the proportion of the population eligible for funded ELC. Although the exact number of children eligible is not known, it is estimated that around a quarter of two year olds are eligible for funded ELC through the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and subsequent secondary legislation which commenced in August 2015.

At local authority level, the proportion of two year olds registered varies considerably, with the highest proportions found in East Ayrshire (27%), Inverclyde (22%) and Clackmannanshire (21%). Aberdeen City (5%), East Lothian (5%) and Shetland Islands (5%) had the lowest proportions of their two year old populations registered for ELC.

The number of deferred registrations for funded ELC increased by 9% from 5,940 in 2020 to 6,459 in 2021. Of children potentially eligible for a funded place due to deferral, 24% were registered for funded ELC in 2021, compared with 21% in 2020. Five local authorities (Angus, Argyll and Bute, Falkirk, Scottish Borders, and Shetland Islands) are currently piloting implementation of entitlement to funded ELC for all children whose school start is deferred^[1].

(1) This is a snapshot of registrations at census week (13-17 September 2021). It does not include children who were registered between census week and the end of December.

(2) Refers to academic year - three and four year olds were previously referred to as ‘ante pre-school’ and ‘pre-school’ respectively. Three year olds are children born between 1^st March 2018 and 31^st August 2019, and four year olds are children born between 1^st March 2017 and 28^th February 2018.

(3) Eligible children are estimated from National Records of Scotland population projections. For three year olds, only around half of children are eligible at the time of the census (13-17 September 2021). 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. Children may also attend centres outside of the local authority they live in, which would also affect these figures.

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

(5) Eligibility figures for deferral are calculated on the assumption that all children born from September to February inclusive are potentially eligible for funded ELC if they defer entry to primary school; January and February born children are entitled to the additional year of funded ELC, while for September to December born children, the local authority decides whether to provide it. 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 four year old category. Five local authorities (Angus, Argyll and Bute, Falkirk, Scottish Borders, and Shetland Islands) are currently piloting funded ELC for all children whose school start is deferred.

Table 5.2 shows that the overall FTE of teachers, graduates, and staff working towards the SSSC benchmark degree level qualifications in ELC was 5,387 in 2021, an increase of 7% from 5,015 in 2020. The FTE of teachers working in ELC was 704 in 2021, compared with 729 in 2020, a 3% decrease of 24 FTE. The FTE of graduates with degrees relevant to early years working in ELC was 3,150 in 2021, a 16% increase of 429 FTE compared with 2,721 recorded in 2020. The FTE of ELC staff working towards the SSSC benchmark degree level qualifications decreased by 32 FTE to 1,533 in 2021, a 2% decrease compared with 1,565 FTE in 2020.

(1) GTCS registered teachers. Includes teachers in ELC centres, centrally employed teachers, and home visiting teachers.

(2) Includes staff that hold: a degree level benchmark qualification required by the SSSC for registration as a manager/lead practitioner (see background notes for list of benchmark qualifications); a degree level (SCQF level 9) qualification relevant to early years and are working towards a degree level benchmark qualification required by the SSSC for registration as a manager/lead practitioner; or a degree level 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) relevant to early years, but are working towards a SSSC benchmark degree level qualification for registration as a manager/lead practitioner.

Table 5.3 shows the characteristics of teachers in ELC centres and centrally employed teachers. The vast majority of teachers (92%) were female. Since 2015, the proportion of male teachers has more than doubled from 3% to 8%.

Since 2012, the average age of teachers has remained around age 45. Data on age and sex is only available for teachers, although they form only part of the graduate workforce in ELC.

Chart 2 shows the age profile of GTCS registered ELC teachers, as at September 2021. The number of teachers generally increases to age 41, then peaks at ages 41 and 42, before decreasing sharply after age 55, with a small increase at age 59.