Parents and carers invited to take part in ELC consultation
02 November 2021
Aberdeen City Council has launched an online consultation on the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) provision in the city.
The City Council is committed to offering high quality Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) to all three and four-year old children and eligible two-year olds, which encourages learning and development through play, exploring and having fun.
ELC can make a significant contribution to a child’s development, which is why the Council is committed to offering all children the best start to life so they can grow into healthy, happy and confident adults who in turn achieve great things.
Since August 2021, all three and four-year-old children and eligible 2-year olds have been entitled to 1140 funded hours of high quality ELC per year at a local authority nursery and from private nurseries, playgroups and childminders working in partnership with Aberdeen City Council. This has almost doubled from the previous entitlement of up to 600 hours of ELC per year.
The Council would like to hear from parents, carers and future parents and carers on the implementation of the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare for all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds to date.
The purpose of this consultation is to seek the views of parents and carers in order to:
Review the impact of the implementation of the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare to date; Inform the development of an Early Learning and Childcare Delivery Plan, which will set out the strategic direction for the delivery of Early Learning and Childcare in the city for the next 2 years, responding to local need and reflecting the diversity of communities in Aberdeen; andMeet Aberdeen City Council’s statutory consultation duties under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.Education Operational Committee convener Councillor M. Taqueer Malik said: “This is an exciting time as we implement the increased statutory entitlement of 1140 hours of Early Learning and Childcare for all three and four year olds and eligible two year olds.
“We recognise how the expansion of ELC can play its part in improving long term outcomes for children and families and help us achieve our Local Outcome Improvement Plan ambition of reducing the poverty-related attainment gap and ensure that Aberdeen is a place where everyone can prosper.
“We are keen to hear the views of parents and carers as these will play an important role in shaping our Early Learning and Childcare Delivery Plan for the next two years. It is important that we take families and communities with us on this journey and encourage all to take part in this consultation.”
The extended hours are an entitlement not a requirement so parents can choose to take all or part of the hours available to them. Options available: full day provision, a half day (morning or afternoon session) or a blended approach of Local Authority and Funded Provider / Childminder.
To participate in the online consultation please go to: https://forms.gle/auYvoPK9B6S2oxLu7
The online survey opened Monday 01 November and closes at 8pm on Friday 19 November 2021.
A link to the consultation is also available on the Council website on the Expanding Early Learning and Childcare page: