Scottish Government

Findings from a project that explored the relationship between children’s experience of pre-school provision and change in their social and cognitive development between ages 3 and 5. The project examined differences in the characteristics of pre-school provision experienced by different children and whether, in particular, the quality of the provision – as assessed through inspection by the Care Inspectorate or Education Scotland – influenced change in children’s outcomes. The project used data collected from mothers and children in the first birth cohort of the Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) study between 2008 and 2010. Survey data was linked to administrative data held by the Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland.