Early education and care

We know that high quality early learning and childcare (ELC) can make a huge difference to children’s lives, particularly when they are growing up in more disadvantaged circumstances.

That is why councils offer funded ELC to 2 year olds who are most likely to benefit from early access – to narrow the gap in long term outcomes between the most and least disadvantaged children.

Further reading:

• Drivers and barriers to uptake of early learning and childcare among two year olds.
• Mapping ELC Provision for one and two year olds in Scotland
• Early entry into early learning and childcare and children's developmental outcomes: Evidence review
• Rapid evidence review: Childcare quality & children's outcomes, by Public Health Scotland