Early Learning and Childcare Parental Consultation 2023

We asked

While Aberdeenshire Early Years continually seeks feedback on the provision of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC), the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 requires all Local Authorities to consult with families on their views of funded ELC. As such, parents/carers, and the wider community were asked their views on the flexibility and suitability of provision. We asked how families were accessing provision, where they were going to access their funded ELC, how much of their full entitlement was being accessed in order to understand demand and whether or not it was felt that the current provision met the needs of families.

You said

In total the survey received 842 responses from parents and carers living in Aberdeenshire council. The survey was open to parents to be, carers and extended family members, to ensure that as many perspectives were captured in the responses as possible.

Although most responses are using their full entitlement of funded hours (30 hrs/wk), a quarter of them are not. The main reason for the 43.1% who do not use their full entitlement is – either they don’t require it or their child is doing some other extra activities somewhere else. A notable number (82.7%) of respondents are happy with the provision of 1140hrs of funded EL&C in their area (i.e., Local Authority settings, Funded Providers Settings and Childminders).

A significant number (70.5%) of respondents agree that the currently funded EL&C offer meets their family needs, however, a small portion (29.5%) disagree due to their working patterns, their children being less-than-3-year-old, there being no childminders available in their vicinity, or their preferences were in “out-of-school clubs”. Similarly, around 85.9% of respondents are clear enough to understand the funded hours options. When asked, “If additional hours were made available at a cost at a Local Authority setting, is this something you would consider using?” almost two-thirds of respondents replied “Yes” or “May be”.

The high preference (42.6%) of respondents to choose the EL&C setting: a place where their children will attend school later. he second interest was the location, i.e., close to their home, and the third was the ELC-setting. The respondents are less interested in patterns of attendance that suit their needs; such as close to work, flexible hours, and so on, while choosing the EL&C setting. Similarly, a considerable number (61.2%) of respondents are interested if more outdoor provisions would be offered to them for their children. Although half of the respondents thought there is no barrier to accessing funded EL&C, fewer found “Timing” - 9:00AM to 3:00PM is a major barrier for them.

We will

The Feedback was shared with Senior Management in Aberdeenshire Council and it has resulted in more detailed consultations taking place in 5 areas across Aberdeenshire. As a result, models of delivery of early learning and childcare (ELC) have been adapted to support families in accessing more of their funded entitlement. In Ellon and Aboyne, Council ELC settings have changed from offering 8am to 6pm to offering a hybrid of 8am to 6pm and 9am to 3pm. Plans are being made to carry out similar, more detailed consultation in areas all across Aberdeenshire, to better understand the childcare needs of families. The information will be shared with elected members in each of the six administration areas across Aberdeenshire. The information from these consultations will be used to shape the Aberdeenshire Council model for ELC delivery for 2025/26.