Scottish Government

Implementing the Plan

I am clear about my vision for a professional workforce in the future. I want quality, flexible services for children and families. I want the workforce to be professionally led, which is why my priority is to develop qualifications and professional development routes for leaders of the sector. I want a clear route for workers to navigate and secure the qualifications and development they need to progress through their careers. I want an integrated workforce that is able to deliver the flexible services families need. I want a funding system for pre-school education that provides incentives for high quality provision.

I intend to consult on the detail of how we implement the programme of work to increase the professionalism and raise the status of this important sector which will feed into the programme's development. The Review's report includes questions about the features of a qualifications and professional development framework, workforce planning and improving the status of working in early years and childcare. The consultation exercise will finish in December 2006 and I will publish a summary of responses in 2007.

I have set out the early action I intend to take to develop the professional workforce we need to deliver quality flexible services for children and families. This is a large and challenging programme of development work. However, it is the next step in building on the progress we have already made in the services that are available for children and families and in the professionalism of the workers delivering them.

This is not the end of the process, but the start of one where I want to see Scotland continue to develop a truly professional early years and childcare workforce which is respected for the importance and the quality of the services it provides for our children and families.