Update on Childcare Sector Financial Sustainability Health Check - Survey of Day Care of Children Services

The Scottish Government launched, on 28 April, a survey of all registered day care of children services in order to understand the factors affecting their current financial sustainability including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their services.

Following feedback from the sector the Scottish Government has extended the deadline for completing the survey until midnight on Thursday 20 May 2021. The survey can be accessed at: https://response.questback.com/scottishgovernment/88qy4mh74s.

Thank you to those services who have already completed the survey.

A separate survey for childminding services to complete is also currently open.

The responses from both surveys will help to inform a Financial Sustainability Health Check of the childcare sector that is being undertaken by the Scottish Government.

The Financial Sustainability Health Check will gather evidence of the impact of COVID-19 on the sustainability of all types of childcare providers, and will assess the impact of financial support which has been made available. It will also help to inform any future support for the sector and, as indicated in the updated Interim Guidance on Funding Follows the Child published in March 2021, any updates to the guidance on setting Sustainable Rates for providers delivering funded Early Learning and Childcare.

The survey is detailed and asks for information on your costs of delivery, income (including the contribution of different sources of income if known), capacity, and pricing. The survey will require time to complete, and if you would like a copy of all the survey questions in advance of completing online then please contact: ELCPartnershipForum@gov.scot.

The survey is designed to capture the views of the following registered services:

• Private day care of children services (including school age childcare services); and
• Voluntary/not-for-profit day care of children services (including school age childcare services).

The Scottish Government would be very grateful for any time that you are able to spare in order to complete the survey.

If you would like any further information, or a copy of all the survey questions in advance of completing online, then please contact: ELCPartnershipForum@gov.scot.