The Case for Investing in the Early Years and Childcare Workforce
We all know that childhood is a special time and that childhood experiences can have a profound impact throughout our lives, influencing attitudes, physical and mental well-being, life chances and life choices. We know how important it is, therefore, to give our children the very best start in life, from their earliest months and into adolescence and beyond. As parents, we do all we can to secure the best start for our children. For more and more working parents, that includes seeking the best childcare to provide for their children's safety, development and stimulation whilst they themselves are at work.
In recent years we have secured an unprecedented increase in the resources we make available to fund these services, and have seen a dramatic expansion in provision. We invest £156m annually to provide free, part-time pre-school education for all 3 and 4 year olds whose parents wish it - and almost all parents of eligible children now take up this offer. Funding of our childcare strategy, which aims to provide affordable, accessible, quality childcare for children has more than doubled since 2003-04, to the current figure of £44m. Other funding streams, such as the £57m for Sure Start Scotland and £15m per annum for Working for Families, also contribute to the development of childcare provision as part of their wider purpose of providing targeted support and help towards employment for vulnerable families. In addition, we have supported a substantial increase in the number of places available in out of school care and begun to put these services on a more stable footing. These are all welcome achievements, but we cannot be complacent. Inspection reports tell us that many services are achieving very high standards but we must ensure that all services attain the quality of the best.
High quality, flexible early years and childcare services are essential to enable all our children to meet their potential; to help them develop the social skills and attitudes which will stand them in good stead in later life; to provide the safe and stimulating care parents want for their children; and to enable parents to take up employment and training opportunities. There is now ample research evidence about the benefits of quality early years services for all children.
Research shows that high quality pre-school services enhance children's intellectual, social and behavioural development, helping them to make a better start at school, increasing their sociability, their ability to co-operate and their independence. The most recent and compelling evidence comes from England. The Effective Provision of Pre-School Education ( EPPE) study which started in 1997 investigated the effect of pre-school education on children's development. The benefits are clear for all children, although there is evidence that vulnerable or disadvantaged children may derive even greater benefit. The intellectual gains last well into the early years of primary school, whilst long-term studies suggest that the social and behavioural benefits can last through adolescence and into adulthood. It is becoming increasingly clear, therefore, that investing in early years services is an investment in our children's future and in the future of Scotland; that investment in these services can, and will, pay dividends into the future.
Childcare provision for school-age children is also vitally important, allowing working parents to continue to support their families financially and enabling others to return to work, knowing that their children will be cared for, kept safe, and involved in positive activities. The provision of affordable, accessible, quality childcare, available at the times parents need it, plays an essential role in the expansion of our economy, helping parents, especially mothers, return to work and creating further employment opportunities within childcare itself.
But the quality of early years and childcare services is a critical factor. Only high quality services can deliver the benefits research has identified. And the single most important factor influencing the quality of these services is the workforce. Again, research is showing us that high quality outcomes for children are directly associated with the level of qualification of centre staff. The more staff with higher qualifications in a centre, the higher the quality of that centre and the better the outcomes are for the children attending the service.
For too long, the early years and childcare sector has been seen as low-skill, low-status employment. If that ever was the case, it can not be the case in the future. As parents, and as a society, we rightly expect childcare providers to deliver the highest level of care to the children we entrust to them, to help those children enjoy happy and stimulating childhoods and fulfil their potential. To secure this, we need a skilled, flexible, professional workforce, able to adapt to changing demands and expectations, and who have clear opportunities for professional development and career progression. That is why I ordered a review of the early years and childcare workforce, and why I welcome the publication of the Review Report.
I would like to thank the review team for the enthusiasm and commitment they have shown in tackling the complex workforce issues facing the sector. I have read the Review's report with interest, and am determined to build on the momentum that the Review has generated, and on the progress we have already made to expand these vital services.
In the following sections, I set out my intentions for the early years and childcare workforce, and for the services they deliver to families.