Invitation ro Tender

Tender description

The Scottish Government is seeking to commission a mixed methods research project, which aims to contribute further evidence to school age childcare (SAC) provision in Scotland’s rural and island regions. The research would seek to understand how to address the challenges of providing consistent, affordable, SAC in rural and island areas. This research should consist of an evidence review of school age childcare (SAC) providers in rural and island regions in Scotland, and beyond. The project should undertake a number of in-depth qualitative interviews with rural SAC providers including existing SAC pilots such as the Mull & Iona Community Trust pilot and the Access to Childcare Fund projects. These interviews should primarily identify any SAC providers who are currently delivering a ‘wraparound’ system of care. Interviews should also be undertaken with a wide range of parents and carers in these areas. The project should also include secondary data analysis of existing surveys and research. Additionally, the study should take account of the evidence base that has been developed with the ELC – Provision, Practice and Communications Unit in Scottish Government. Finally, the project should aim to provide recommendations for incorporating data collection into the existing research framework, as well as undertake a final scoping exercise of future pilot projects.