An equal start: A plan for equality in early learning and care in Scotland (2016)

The Scottish Government has committed to delivering 30 hours free childcare per week (1,140 per year) for all 3-4 year olds and ‘vulnerable’ two year olds by 2020. The commitment is a doubling of the Scottish Government’s current policy of 15 hours a week (600 hours per year) free childcare, with the ambition that Scotland will be “the best place in the world to bring up children”.

This report is a plan for delivering this change through a National Childcare Service in public provision, as a replacement for the fragmented, haphazard and unequal nature of the childcare sector at present. The report provides a comprehensive, costed strategy for achieving this transformation.