Nursery World - MSPs want new strategy

MSPs are calling on the Scottish Executive to produce a ten-year strategy for early years to ensure that local authorities have clear plans for developing the sector. On Wednesday the Scottish Parliament's education committee published its early years inquiry report, pointing out that an overarching childcare strategy has not been produced in Scotland since 1998.

On Wednesday the Scottish Parliament's education committee published its early years inquiry report, pointing out that an overarching childcare strategy has not been produced in Scotland since 1998.

It said that the 'single most important factor' in improving quality in the early years sector is raising skill levels across the workforce.

But the committee said that it 'viewed with unease' plans by some local authorities to remove teachers from their nurseries, particularly in deprived areas. It recommends that the Scottish Executive provides clear guidance to local authorities on the circumstances where it is 'essential that qualified teaching staff are employed'. It suggests that teachers be a requirement in pre-five nursery education in disadvantaged areas.

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