Aberdeenshire Council ELC Parental Consultation 2025

What you told us

The Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Parental Consultation received almost 3,000 visits, with 1,016 parents and carers actively contributing and sharing their views. Responses were received from families who currently access Early learning & Childcare, those with previous experience, and parents who expect to use early learning and childcare in the future. Parents and carers reported using a mix of council nurseries, private nurseries, playgroups and childminders, providing a broad range of experiences to help inform our understanding.

• Parents and carers said having different session options is important. Some want sessions that match the school day (9am–3pm). Others need longer days or year round places for work, training or study. When the options don’t fit, some families can’t use all their funded hours in one setting.
• Many families said they used two settings to make childcare work, not because they wanted to. Parents told us it isn’t always clear how split placements work or how funded hours are shared between settings.
• Parents said applying can feel complicated, especially the first time. Families asked for simpler information about how to apply, funding rules and key dates, plus earlier reminders through places they trust (like health visitors, nurseries and schools).
• Families, especially in rural areas, told us they value local settings. Concerns have been raised regarding increased travel times should services be altered, with particular emphasis on the significance of smaller nurseries for children requiring additional support.
• Most parents said Early Learning & Childcare supports children’s learning, friendships and getting ready for school. Families also said funded Early Learning & Childcare helps at home by supporting parents to work, or by giving children valuable early learning experiences.

What we are doing

• We will continue to offer different funded session options where we can, such as school day sessions, mornings or afternoons, and term time or all year options. We use parent feedback to review what’s offered locally and work with funded providers in each area to promote a variety of different models for families.
• We’re improving the information for families who use more than one setting. This will explain more clearly how funded hours can be shared and what to do when you apply.
• We’re making our information about Early Learning & Childcare easier to understand, including admissions and where to get help. We’re also working with health visitors, nurseries and schools to share reminders about applications and key dates.
• We recognise that local and rural nurseries are important to families and communities. Your feedback will help shape future planning, including careful consideration of travel, accessibility and children’s needs should any changes be proposed.
• What you told us is helping us improve how Early Learning & Childcare works across Aberdeenshire from how we share information, plan provision and support children and families to use their funded hours.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views. The feedback received from parents and carers with current, past and future experience of Early Learning and Childcare has provided valuable insight into what matters most to families across Aberdeenshire. Your views are already helping to inform future planning, improvements to information and communication, and how Early learning & Childcare provision is shaped across Aberdeenshire to best meet the needs of children and families.

You can view the original project here: Aberdeenshire Council ELC Parental Consultation 2025 | Engage Aberdeenshire