The Care Inspectorate has today published ‘Early Learning and Childcare Statistics 2023’, which shows the availability and quality of registered daycare of children and childminding services for children and families across Scotland.
This report is based on the early learning and childcare (ELC) services registered with the Care Inspectorate and incorporates evaluations of the quality of these services, as well as additional information from the annual returns completed by service providers. The statistics include longer term trends as well as a focus on changes in the most recent year to 31 December 2023.
There were 3,444 daycare of children services as of 31 December 2023, 70 fewer compared to 2022. However, the average size of daycare of children services continued to increase, rising from 51.2 places in 2022 to 51.9 in 2023.
The number of childminding services registered continued to decrease, falling by 8.6% in 2023 to 3,225 compared to 3,530 in 2022.
The capacity in early learning and childcare (including childminding services) decreased by 1.4%, from 201,960 in 2022 to 199,050 registered places. The decrease was driven primarily by childminding services where capacity decreased from 22,040 places in 2022 to 20,070 places in 2023. Capacity in daycare of children services decreased by 1,040 places (0.6%) overall.
There were 219,130 children registered with an early learning and childcare service, a decrease of 1.0% from 2022.
School-aged childcare services had an increase of 1,890 children registered (4.4% increase) compared to 2022, while all other service types had decreases. There were 197,000 children registered with daycare of children services, a decrease from 197,880 in 2022. For childminding services there were 22,130 children registered in December 2022, decreased from 23,410 in 2022.
There were 2,649 (96.6%) daycare of children services providing funded early learning and childcare (ELC), compared to 96.2% last year. The proportion of playgroups offering funded places increased from 76.7% in 2022 to 78.5% in 2023, while for children and family centres and nurseries, there were decreases of 0.4% and 0.3% respectively.
The proportion of registered childminding services approved to deliver funded places was 34.9%, an increase from 34.6% in 2022.
The quality of services continues to be high, with 92.6% of childminding and 88.3% of daycare of children services holding evaluations of good or better for all assessed themes or key questions.
The proportion of services holding evaluations of weak or unsatisfactory for all assessed themes or key questions was low (0.4%).
Overall, 89.8% of daycare of children services offering funded ELC places held evaluations of good or better in all assessed themes or key questions.
Jackie Irvine, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “High quality early learning and childcare services are a vital part of providing every child in Scotland with the best possible start in life. Not only do they allow children a safe place to grow and learn among their peers, but they give parents and guardians the opportunity to access employment, education and training.
“We are pleased to see that once again there is no relationship between prevalence of good quality funded services (those evaluated as good or better in all assessed themes or key questions) and levels of Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), indicating that a consistent level of good quality funded provision is available in all areas. Where improvement is needed, we will continue to offer services our support.”
The full report can be read here.