SEYA are currently running three education and advocacy campaigns. We are engaging with law makers, elected representatives, and members of the civil service on the above.
The Scottish government has mandated that all three- and four-year old children, and eligible two-year olds, will be entitled to 1,140 hours of early-learning and childcare (ELC). These hours can be provided through Local Authority settings, or through the private, independent, voluntary, or not-for-profit sectors.
Funding is provided from the Scottish Government to Local Authorities, which then pass a rate per child on to the setting providing the care.
However, Local Authorities use their own formula to determine a rate which they deem reasonable, and then lock that rate in for up-to 3 years. This decision is taken irrespective of the actual costs of providing the childcare, or recognition that wage increases for educators will be required over the 3-year period.
SEYA believes this policy not only acts to reduce the level of early-learning which can be provided; penalises educators and other staff by reducing the amount they can be paid in the private sector while allowing Local Authority settings to offer higher rates of pay; but is also unfair, anti-competitive and undermines the intention of the Scottish Government’s policy.
SEYA believes that nurseries should meet a clear set of rigorous standards, and that these standards must be upheld and measured by the Care Inspectorate.
However, we believe that the standards must be fair, suitable, and appropriately implemented across all settings irrespective of the ownership of the setting. Outdoor settings can’t be measured by the same benchmark as those which are fully indoor, while those which are fully indoor can’t be measured by the same benchmark as those which include indoor and outdoor areas for the children. Privately owned settings and Local Authority settings should be measured by the same benchmarks.
Equally, standards must provide clarity and certainty for nurseries. They should not provide ambiguity or be measured subjectively.
SEYA understands that this is a fine balance for both nurseries and the Care Inspectorate. While nurseries want to meet and exceed the standards to which they are accountable, they also look for understanding where defined standards may not be suitable for their particular setting, and recognition that inspections are merely snapshots of ongoing operations. More than anything, we recognise that there needs to be a strong and consistent relationship between Care Inspectorate staff and nursery owners and managers.
SEYA recognises the level of trust placed in our nursery members by the parents of children enrolled at our settings. This trust is precious to us, and we know that it is our incredible staff who deliver on that trust. It is, ultimately, our staff which provide the care to the children and help them grow, develop, and enjoy themselves, our staff who build relationships with parents and provide advice and support, our staff which devote their own expertise and energy.
However, there can be a disconnect between the skills which our staff possess and those which are considered as appropriate for a nursery worker. Unless our staff have earned a very narrow range of qualifications, they are considered unskilled in the field of childcare. Qualifications in sports, drama, music, or languages other than English are not recognised as appropriate skills for child care , even though they are welcomed in the school sector, and even though they are vital skills for early years children to experience.
Early years training needs reform. Not only should there be recognition of core skills as outlined above, but modules included in compulsory training need to be updated to include a framework on the importance of children’s development, as well as outdoor learning, the choice of the child, supporting strategies for behaviour, and, importantly, the mental health and wellbeing for the workforce, children, and their families.
The provision of compulsory continuing professional development (CPD) modules needs to be more accessible to the private sector. Too often, courses which are run by Local Authorities are pre-booked by Local Authority staff at the exclusion of those in the private sector. Where private sector staff do undertake CPD during normal operation hours, non-Local Authority nurseries should be able to receive financial compensation for the expense of additional staff.
Early years staff are no longer simple baby-sitters. They are highly qualified and regulated by government, and they should be recognised as a skilled vocation with remuneration which complements their skills.
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