Early Learning and Childcare

In Scotland, Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) is provided by local authority or partnership providers (i.e. private and third-sector nurseries, and childminders). Children can attend establishments, in theory, ‘from birth’ (but in practice this is typically from six to nine months) until they attend primary school. All children aged three and four years, and two-year-olds who meet certain criteria (looked-after children, and children whose families receive a qualifying benefit) in Scotland are entitled to 1,140 hours of funded ELC per year. This equates to 30 hours per week if used with term-time only providers, or 23 hours per week if used with providers open all year round. Funded ELC can be used over multiple registered providers, and parents/carers can pay for additional ELC provision over and above the funded entitlement.

Scotland

In 2023, there were 2,582 centres providing funded ELC across Scotland. This is a decrease of 24 centres from the previous year. The total number of ELC centres in Scotland is now slightly lower than it was in 2020.

Local authority centres (1,620) across Scotland outnumbered partnership centres (962) in every local authority excluding Glasgow City Region (109 local authority, 121 partnership) and Moray (24 local authority, 40 partnership).

In 2023, there were 92,182 children registered for funded ELC across Scotland reflecting a 1% decrease from the previous year. While registrations have seen an overall decrease since 2013, this is expected given the projected decrease in population of children this age. Most children in Scotland registered with an ELC provider were registered with a local authority centre (70%) compared to a partnership centre (30%). This trend was reflected across all local authorities except for Moray where 38% of registrations were at local authority centres and 62% at partnership centres.

Glasgow City Region 

In 2023, there were 746 centres providing funded ELC across Glasgow City Region, with a lower proportion of partnership providers (312) compared to local authority providers (434). Glasgow had the highest number of ELC centres (230) in any local authority in Scotland, reflecting the population density of the city.

Of the 10,314 children registered with ELC centres in the city in this year, two thirds (62%) were registered with a local authority centre, and one third (38%) were registered with a partnership centre.

ELC registrations by age

Across Scotland, and in all local authority areas, the highest proportion of registrations at ELC providers were among three and four-year-olds, which is to be expected given the provision of funded ELC from this age. Although there was some regional variation.

Almost all (97%) children aged three and four years in Scotland were registered with an ELC provider. In Glasgow, this figure stood at 91%, while Angus had the lowest proportion of three and four-year-olds registered with ELC providers (88%, respectively).

In Scotland, 52% of eligible two-year-olds were registered with an ELC provider, with variation at local authority level. For example, Clackmannanshire had the highest proportion of eligible two-year-olds registered (94%) while East Lothian and Aberdeen had the lowest proportion (33%). In Glasgow, 45% of eligible two-year-olds were registered with an ELC provider.

Similarly, in Glasgow, around one quarter (27%) of children eligible for deferred entry to Primary school – thus entitled to an additional year of funded ELC – were registered with an ELC provider. This figure is slightly lower than the national levels (33%). Clackmannanshire had the lowest rate of deferred-entry children registered at ELC centres (18%) while Shetland and Orkney islands had the highest rates (55% and 61% respectively).

The low uptake among eligible two-year olds and children eligible for deferred entry alongside high uptake among eligible three and four-year olds, suggests children are more likely to attend an ELC provider once they qualify for the universal funded ELC rather than additional funded ELC. Which leads us to question what additional barriers there are to attending ELC.

ELC registrations by language

Across Scotland, 11% of children registered with an ELC provider did not have English, Scots, Gaelic, or sign language as their home language. In Glasgow, this was 27% and was the highest proportion across all local authority areas.  

ELC registrations by disability

Across Scotland, 2% of children registered with an ELC provider were assessed or declared disabled. This was slightly higher (3%) in Glasgow.

ELC registrations by additional support needs

In Scotland, 18% of registrations at ELC centres were for children with additional support needs. This was slightly higher in Glasgow (25%) where ‘English as an additional language’ was the most common form of support need.

West Dunbartonshire had the highest proportion of children with additional support needs registered at ELC centres (29%), with social, emotional, or behavioural issues being cited as the most common form of need. While Na h-Eileanan Siar had the lowest proportion (10%).

Notes

Data comes from Scottish Government Schools in Scotland 2023: summary statistics.

This data only includes providers which have children registered for funded ELC. Therefore providers which do provide funded ELC, but did not have any children registered at the time of the Census were not counted. Children registered with more than one ELC provider may be counted more than once, thus overestimating the true uptake. Children may also attend ELC centres outwith the local authority they live in, which could also affect data.

The eligible population of two-year-olds in each local authority has been calculated for the first time using aggregate data on households in Scotland in receipt of the majority of qualifying benefits and with a child of the relevant age, combined with information on children eligible for non-economic reasons.

 This page was last updated in January 2025.