Item 09 - Early Learning and Childcare Update
West Dunbartonshire Council · 17 September 2025
Back to Educational Services Committee — 17 September 2025 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Senior Education Officer – Early Learning and Attainment Educational Services Committee: Wednesday 17th September 2025 _______________________________________________________________ Subject: Early Learning and Childcare 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: (i) progress to deliver high quality Early Learning and Childcare. 3. Background 3.1 Early Learning and Childcare Within Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) we 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 vulnerable and 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. This session we will also provide funding and training, through West College Scotland, to some of our Learning Assistants to assist them in achieving their SVQ Level 2 qualification. This is a requirement from the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and will greater support them in their role and with any future career advancement. ITEM 9
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4. Main Issues 4.1 New Partners We are currently assessing two new provisions who have expressed an interest in entering into partnership with us to offer funded early learning and childcare. 4.2 Children’s Progress Attendance continues to be robustly monitored on a monthly basis within our early years settings and training to staff has been provided to develop a more consistent approach. The average rolling attendance across West Dunbartonshire Council settings this session to date is 86.85% which is 3.5% higher than last session. We will continue to work on the importance of good attendance to ensure the best outcomes for children. 4.3 Assessment Data Assessment data gathered in June 2025 shows that children continue to make good progress in literacy and numeracy outcome measures. Percentage of Children Achieving Literacy Benchmark (Concepts of Print) – June 2024 & June 2025 56% 38% 6%Jun-24 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Concepts of Print - June 2024 60% 34% 6%Jun-25 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Concepts of Print - June 2025 Through the teaching of concepts of print children develop their early understanding of reading and the written word. June 2025 data compared against the data we have from June 2024 shows an increase in children attaining the green benchmark by 4% and our second highest score to date. Those children in the green section have already achieved this early level and we would anticipate that the children who are in the amber section are on track to achieve the early level by the end of Primary 1. It should also be
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noted that for concepts of print our benchmark score to attain green is 7 and currently 12.7% of children in the amber section have attained a score of 6. In other areas of literacy we achieved good progress last year. For syllable structure there has been a 4% increase compared to June 2024 in those achieving the green benchmark. For nursey rhymes there has been a 3% increase compared to June 2024 in those achieving the green benchmark and all areas within reciprocal teaching have had an increase compared to June 2024 in those achieving the benchmark. Our literacy stretch aim was that 64-68% of all children will achieve the benchmark in Concepts of Print by 2024-2025 and we have achieved 60%. 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 2025 our pre school data found that almost 37% of these children had additional support needs. As an average over the last 8 years our percentage achieving the green benchmark is 55% and this session we have achieved 5% higher than the average to date. Within our delivery plan, to support further with literacy, we will continue to focus on working closely with individual settings to provide specific training and support in this area to focus on improvement. Progress Over Time – Concepts of Print Percentage of Children Achieving Numeracy Benchmark (Number and number processes) – June 2024 & June 2025 34% 62% 4%Jun-24 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Number and Number Processes - June 2024 60% 56% 59% 62% 45% 53% 53% 52% 2024 - 2025 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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39% 57% 4%Jun-25 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Number and Number Processes - June 2025 Through the teaching of number and number processes children develop their early understanding of number and how numbers are constructed. June 2025 data compared against the data we have from June 2024 shows an increase in children attaining the green benchmark by 5%. Those children in the green section have already achieved this early level and we would anticipate that the children who are in the amber section are on track to achieve the early level by the end of Primary 1. It should also be noted that for number and number process the benchmark score to attain green is 19 and currently there are 7.3% currently that have attained a score of 18. In other areas of numeracy we achieved good progress last year and all areas within have increased compared to June 2024 data. For fractions, decimals and percentages and in the area of angles, symmetry and transformation we have seen an increase in 6% of children attaining the green benchmark. Additionally, for pattern and relationships and for 2D shapes and 3D objects we have seen an increase of 4% of children attaining the green benchmark. Our numeracy stretch aim was that 32-36% of all children will achieve the benchmark in number and number processes 2024-2025 and we have achieved 39%. This is our highest score to date. Where required, we will continue to focus on working closely with individual settings to provide specific training and support in this area to focus on sustained improvement. Progress over time – Number and number processes 5. People Implications 39% 34% 32% 30% 20% 22% 19% 19% 2024 - 2025 2023 -2024 2022 - 2023 2021 - 2022 2020 - 2021 2018 - 2019 2017 - 2018 2016 - 2017 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%
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This session, for the second year we gathered predictions on whether children in their pre-school year are on track to achieve the early level by the end of Primary 1. This data is outlined below and shows a positive increase in all areas to the data gathered last session. 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 To date, we have supported 25 Modern Apprentices. 21 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. 4 Modern Apprentices are working towards their qualification at present, with 1 more due to commence shortly. Additionally, since 2022 we have supported 25 career changers, or ‘upskillers’. Upskillers are employees whose training is fully funded through Skills Development Scotland. 20 of them have completed their qualification and 4 are currently participating in working towards achieving their qualification. We will continue to promote this career path and route to qualification. In August we welcomed 2 new career changers. 6. Financial and Procurement Implications Financial Year Revenue (£m) Capital (£m) 2021/22 9.723 5.880 2022/23 9.485 0.794 2023/24 9.742 0.287 2024/25 9.725 0 2025/26 0 0 Please note for 2025-26 - Under the terms of the Verity House Agreement, the Budget removed ringfencing of early years funding. ELC expansion funding which was previously ringfenced within the Specific Revenue Grant (SRG) is now baselined. The full ELC quantum is therefore now included within the General Revenue Grant (GRG). June 2024 June 2025 % Difference Reading 80 85 +5 Writing 82 84 +2 Talking & Listening 85 87 +2 Numeracy 87 90 +3
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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. 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. Alison Bowers Senior Education Officer – Early Learning and Attainment 4 September 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ 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