Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Parent Survey

Hello, welcome to this online survey about early learning and childcare. It will take no more than 20 minutes to complete. Thank you in advance for taking part in this survey.

We are interested in getting views from parents and carers of children aged under 6 who have not yet started school.

In Scotland, children aged 3 and 4 are now entitled to 1140 hours of free early learning and childcare every year. Some 2- and 5-year-olds are also eligible for this. This is funded by the Scottish Government or the local council. Funded places are provided by a range of settings, including school nurseries, playgroups, private nurseries, family centres and childminders.

The offer of 1140 hours of funded ELC is a relatively new offer in Scotland, and we want to find out from parents and carers how well it works and what improvements could be made, if any.

We would also like to get views from people who don’t currently use funded early learning and childcare, including those whose children are not yet old enough to be eligible.

The survey is being carried out by the Scottish Centre for Social Research (ScotCen), an independent research company, on behalf of the Scottish Government. The answers you give will be entirely confidential. Your survey answers will be combined with answers from other people who have taken part to give overall survey findings. No one will be able to identify you individually from the data. You can skip any questions that you do not wish to answer, by selecting ‘prefer not to answer’.

This survey includes collecting some personal information from you such as your age and gender, but you do not have to answer these questions if you do not want to. You can view our privacy notice here: Privacy notice.

Everyone taking part has the chance to enter a prize draw to win one of 8 x £100 cash prizes. Click here for prize draw terms and conditions.

Please complete the survey in one go. If you leave without finishing the survey, your answers will be saved but you won't be able to return to your answers. Instead, you will have to start the survey again.

By completing and submitting this survey, you are consenting to be part of this research.