Item 09 - Early Learning and Childcare Progress Update
West Dunbartonshire Council · 27 November 2024
Back to Educational Services Committee — 27 November 2024 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Chief Education Officer Education Services Committee: Wednesday 27th November 2024 _______________________________________________________________ Subject: Early Learning and Childcare Progress Update 1. Purpose 1.1 This report provides progress made to provide high quality Early Learning and Childcare in West Dunbartonshire Council. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that Committee notes: progress to deliver the statutory entitlement of 1140 hours of high quality Early Learning and Childcare. 3. Background 3.1 Early Learning and Childcare Within Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) we now deliver, across all our settings, up to 1140 hours to eligible 2 year olds and children aged from 3 to those not yet attending primary school. Places for children under the age of 2 are available in our partner settings for working families and for eligible children, and, in our council settings for eligible children. Overall children are very well supported, provided with exciting learning opportunities, and are nurtured by well trained staff. 3.2 Training There continues to be a wide range of training available to all our ELC providers through our Professional Learning Framework and our framework for this session aims to support the actions identified in our delivery plan, staff development needs and to support all children. 4. Main Issues 4.1 Quality of our Early Learning and Childcare Outcomes for children continue to be very positive. There are no current inspection grades to share since our December 2023 report, however, some of our settings have received their Care Inspectorate questionnaires and are being supported to prepare for pending inspection. 4.2 Uptake on Provision Each September and May we submit our census data. Our September data for the past 4 years is outlined below. We continue to see an increase in children accessing a deferred year, however, this has not had an impact on available provision for other children. ITEM 9
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Year Numbers accessing Local Authority Numbers accessing Partners inc. Childminders) Total Number accessing deferred year Total Number of Children September 2024 1187 421 142 1608 September 2023 1217 392 111 1609 September 2022 1256 388 84 1644 September 2021 1259 395 95 1654 4.3 Children’s Progress Attendance is robustly monitored on a monthly basis within our early years settings and training to settings has been provided to develop a more consistent approach. This session we will work on providing settings with good practice guidance, and, on strategies to further improve attendance. Our current attendance percentages, since January 2024, are listed below. Average Attendance Percentage within our Early Years Settings January 2024 February 2024 March 2024 April 2024 May 2024 June 2024 August 2024 September 2024 80.6% 80.3% 82.71% 84.31% 84.26% 83.3% 91.81% 87.41% 4.3 Assessment Data Assessment data gathered in June 2024 shows that children continue to make progress in literacy and numeracy outcome measures. Percentage of Children Achieving Literacy Benchmark (Concepts of Print) – June 2024 56% 38% 6%Jun-24 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Concepts of Print - June 2024 Our literacy stretch aim was that 59-63% of all children will achieve the benchmark in Concepts of Print by 2023-2024 and we have achieved 56%. We have made some progress since 2016-2017, however covid and the rise of children with additional support needs has had an impact on literacy progress. In June 2024 our pre school data found that almost 36% of these children had additional support needs. Within our delivery plan, to support further with literacy, we will focus on working closely with individual settings to provide specific training and support in this area to focus on improvement.
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Progress over time in Concepts of Print Percentage of Children Achieving Numeracy Benchmark (Number and number processes) – June 2024 34% 62% 4%Jun-24 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Number and Number Processes - June 2024 Our numeracy stretch aim was that 31%-35% of all children will achieve the benchmark in Number and Number Processes by session 2023-2024 and we have achieved this. Many of our settings have engaged with and benefited from the new numeracy programme, ‘Count with me in WDC’ this session. Progress over time in Number and Number Processes Achievement of the Early Level This session, for the first time, we have also gathered predictions on whether children in their pre-school year are on track to achieve the early level by the end of 34% 32% 30% 20% 22% 19% 19% 2023 -2024 2022 - 2023 2021 - 2022 2020 - 2021 2018 - 2019 2017 - 2018 2016 - 2017 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 56% 59% 62% 45% 53% 53% 52% 2023 - 2024 2022 - 2023 2021 - 2022 2020 - 2021 2018 - 2019 2017 - 2018 2016 - 2017 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
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Primary 1. We will continue to gather this data over time for further analysis. It is outlined below. Achievement of the Early Level 2023 - 2024 Overall Quintile 1 Quintile 4 Quintile 5 Gap (Q1 v Q5) Reading 83% 76% 83% 94% 18% Writing 84.6% 78% 87% 94% 16% Listening & Talking 87.6% 81% 89% 89% 13% Numeracy 87.8% 83% 87% 91% 8% 5. People Implications 5.1 Support is provided for Early Learning and Childcare staff teams and leaders to enable effective delivery of the high quality ELC and the expectations of the statutory offer of 1140 hours for eligible 2 year olds and 3 year olds to pre school aged children. 5.2 Since 2022 we have supported 18 Modern Apprentices. 10 have completed their training, achieving a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Level 3 within our Early Learning and Childcare settings and have been supported into employment with the council. Additionally since 2022 we have supported 18 career changers, 11 have completed their qualification and 7 are currently participating in working towards achieving their qualification. We will continue to promote this career path and route to qualification. 6. Financial and Procurement Implications 6.1 Financial Year Revenue Capital £m £m 2018/19 1.410 0.580 2019/20 5.268 2.380 2020/21 8.717 4.480 2021/22 9.723 5.880 2022/23 9.485 0.794 2023/24 9.742 0.287 2024/25 9.725 0 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 The Key Risks: Maintaining high quality Early Learning and Childcare at all funded providers to ensure that they meet the National Standard Criteria. Failure to deliver 1140 hours curriculum by confident, well trained Early Learning and Childcare staff teams.
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Evaluations of good for environment by Care Inspectorate are at risk if Early Learning and Childcare building assets are not maintained. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment 8.1 There was no requirement to undertake another Equalities Impact Assessment for the purposes of this report as it is providing an update for Committee. 9. Consultation 9.1 Regular consultation with stakeholders including parents and carers, Early Learning and Childcare staff, Unions, Council partners in the project and partner Early Learning and Childcare providers continues through the various Council fora and regular meetings. 9.2 Legal Services and the Section 95 Officer have been consulted in relation to the content of this report. 10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 This report reflects the Council’s aspiration to have resilient and thriving communities, a strong and flourishing economy and a council that is inclusive and adaptive. These are some of the strategic priorities for 2022-2027. Laura Mason Chief Education Officer Person to Contact: Alison Bowers, Senior Education Officer, Education, Learning and Attainment Telephone No: 07813 534420 Email: alison.bowers@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Background Papers: none Wards Affected: All
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