Early Years 2016 to 2017

The Committee undertook work on Early Years learning and education as part of its remit. This page reflects the work on Early Years during 2016 and 2017.

A link to the webpage for the ongoing work on Early years is here.

Evidence 

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills - 29 June 2016

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills gave evidence to the Committee on 29 June 2016.  In advance of this meeting, the Convener wrote to the Cabinet Secretary asking for a written statement on the Scottish Government's plans for Education and Skills policy in Session 5.

• Read the Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills on Scottish Government's plans (22 June 2016) (2.4MB pdf)

• Read the Official Report of the meeting on 29 June 2016

Meetings and visits in Stirling - 30/31 August 2016

To inform the further planned evidence sessions in September and October the Committee undertook a number of meetings and visits in Stirling.

• Read the notes of the meetings and visits (190KB pdf)

Stakeholder evidence - 5 October 2016

The Committee received written and oral evidence from stakeholders and experts.

Oral Evidence

Read the Official Report of the meeting on 5 October 2016

Written Evidence 

• COSLA (92KB pdf)
• COSLA - additional information (25KB pdf)
• COSLA - additional information - Local Authority feedback on early learning and childcare: Flexibility, Cross Boundary Provision and piloting of new models (109KB pdf)
• National Day Nurseries Association (107KB pdf)
• Scottish Childminding Association (185KB pdf)
• Scottish Childminding Association - additional information (394KB pdf)
• Barnardos Scotland (257KB pdf)
• Save the Children (1.25MB pdf)
• Fair Funding for our Kids (306KB pdf)

SPICe Briefing

• Early Years (372KB pdf)

Scottish Government evidence - 2 November 2016

Read the Official Report of the meeting on 2 November 2016

Correspondence

https://beta.gov.scot/publications/evaluation-early-learning-childcare-expansion-delivery-trials/documents/00535593.pdf?inline=trueThe Minister for Childcare and Early Years wrote to the Convener with information on local authority spend of additional childcare funding from the Scottish Government.   

• Letter from the Minister for Childcare and Early Years on local authority spend (497KB pdf)

Following the evidence session on 5 October on Early Years, the Convener wrote to COSLA seeking further information regarding monitoring of Scottish Government funding at local authority level on the provision of free childcare.

• Letter to COSLA (161KB pdf)

The Minister wrote to the Committee on the Scottish Government's Consultation on the blueprint for early learning and childcare

• Letter from the Minister for Childcare and Early Years on the Scottish Government's Consultation - 6 October 2016 (530KB pdf)

The Convener wrote to the Minister for Childcare and Early Years regarding employment of additional staff to deliver early learning and childcare by 2020.

• Letter to Minister for Childcare and Early Years (116KB pdf)

The Minister for Childcare and Early Years responded to the above letter regarding employment of additional staff. 

• Letter from the Minister for Childcare and Early Years (899KB pdf)

The Convener wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills seeking further information on issues raised during the evidence session on 2 November.  The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills responded to this letter on 1 December 2016.

• Letter from the Convener to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills following meeting on 2 November (158KB pdf)
• Letter from the Cabinet Secretary - 1 December 2016 (141KB pdf)

The Convener wrote to COSLA regarding the delay in supplementary information from COSLA on funded childcare.

• Letter to COSLA on funded childcare (81KB pdf)

COSLA responded to the Conveners letter regarding the supplementary information on funded childcare.

• Letter from COSLA on funded childcare (93KB pdf)

COSLA wrote to the Committee on the role of education authorities with information relating to ASN, early years provision, attainment gap, Scottish Government Governance Review, education spend, and the Audit Scotland report on Teacher Workforce Planning.

•  Letter from COSLA - 7 December 2016 (125KB pdf) 

The Minister wrote to the Committee with information on the second tranche of trials for the early learning and childcare expansion.

• Letter from the Minister early learning and childcare trials expansion - 22 December 2016 (914KB pdf)

The Minister for Childcare and Early Years provided information on the Scottish Government's Additional Graduate commitment.

• Letter from the Minister on Additional Graduate commitment - 18 January 2017 (280KB pdf)

The Minister for Childcare and Early Years wrote to the Convener regarding the publishing of the Space to Grow - Design guidance for early learning and childcare and out of school care setting

• Letter from Minister on Space to Grow Guidance 12 July 2017 (44KB pdf)

The Minister for Childcare and Early Years wrote to the Convener regarding Early Learning and Childcare additional graduate commitment

•  Letter and copy correspondence from Minister for Childcare and Early Years 18 July 2017 (735KB pdf)

The Minister for Childcare and Early Years wrote to the Convener regarding the blueprint for the expansion of Early Years and Childcare.

• Letter from the Minister for Childcare and Early Years 5 September 2017 (1.9MB pdf)

The Committee received a copy of a Letter from the Minister for Childcare and Early Years to COSLA regarding cross boundary places.

• Letter from the Minister for Childcare and Early Years 19 September 2017 (273KB pdf)

The Minister for Childcare and Early Years wrote to the Convener regarding the Onsite Childcare Report.

• Letter from the Minister for Childcare and Early Years 3 November 2017 (434KB pdf)