Mapping early learning and childcare provision for one and two year olds in Scotland

Tender description

As part of a programme of work to build an evidence base for the extension of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) to 1 and 2 year olds, the Scottish Government Early Learning and Childcare Directorate wishes to commission research to map ELC services for 1 and 2 year olds in Scotland. The aim of this project is to enable the Scottish Government to understand what provision currently exists in Scotland for one and two year olds. As part of the programme of work to build an evidence base for extending funded early learning and childcare to one and two year olds, the Scottish Government Early Learning and Childcare Directorate wishes to commission research to map current services for one and two year olds in Scotland. The aim of this project is to enable the Scottish Government to understand what provision currently exists in Scotland for one and two year olds. This should provide a picture of provision available at a national level, gaps in provision and help surface any issues to be addressed at the policy development stage. In addition to this broad level understanding of national provision, a further aim is to understand in depth for a small number of selected local authorities: the range of provision available locally; service models used; how services engage with families; and any evidence available of the impact of such provision on outcomes for children and families. The research should also aim to provide insight into both the benefits and challenges of providing such provision and should make a set of recommendations for further research that may be needed in this area and for policy development. See the attached Specification for more details.