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Overview
Midlothian Council is seeking the views of parents and carers with children under 5 years of age to ensure we provide a high quality service that is responsive to the changing needs of our local communities

For the purposes of this survey we define:
Early Learning and Childcare as the funded 1140 hours provided at Midlothian Council ELC settings, Partnership Centres or childminders for all eligible 2 year olds, 3 and 4 year olds and deferred 5 year olds.

The online survey aims to gain the views of parents and carers regarding the following areas:

  • Attendance at and choosing an Early Learning and Childcare setting
  • The current delivery models available to access the funded entitlement to 1140 hours of Early Learning and Childcare.
  • The application process and criteria for allocating places in local authority Early Learning and Childcare settings.
  • The quality of the parent and carers and children's Early Learning and Childcare experience.
  • The demand for a deferred year of funded Early Learning and Childcare.
  • Experience of accessing Additional Support for Learning for your child.

    What happens next
    The findings from the survey will be used to inform the future delivery of Early Learning and Childcare in Midlothian to ensure our children continue to receive high quality provision that is flexible, accessible and affordable for parents and carers.

    If you have any queries please contact Midlothian Early Learning & Childcare Team at Earlyyears@midlothian.gov.uk

    Confidentiality: All the information provided in this survey will be treated confidentially. We will not publish or disclose any personal information or details of any individual responses.


Please note that most questions require an answer and you may not be able to finish the survey if any questions have not been completed.

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1. Parent/Carer Information

In which town/area of Midlothian do you live?

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2. Which town/area would you prefer your child/children to attend their ELC place. Please tick all that apply.

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3. Please enter your post code below

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4. Which age group are you in?

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5. How many children do you have in each age group?

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6. Which of the following circumstances apply in your household?

  You Partner
In full time employment
In part time employment
In full time education or training
In part time education or training
Not in employment, education or training
Keen to start/return to work/training/education if I can find Childcare that meets my needs

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7. Attendance at and choosing an Early Learning and Childcare setting

Does your child currently access a funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) place?

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8. If your child is currently attending or you are planning for your child to attend an ELC setting within 2 years please tick where your funded ELC place is or you wish it to be.

  Child/children currently attending Child/children will attend within the next 2 years
Childminder
Private Nursery
Playgroup
Family Learning Centre
Vogrie Outdoor ELC Childcare Centre
Scots Corner ELC Childcare Centre
Community Nursery
School Nursery class/Nursery School
Blended place with 2 of the settings above
Not Applicable

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9. When choosing an ELC setting what factors were most important?  (Tick up to 5 of the most important factors)

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10. When choosing your ELC provider did you feel there was a good choice of settings in your area?

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11. How could the delivery of Early Learning & Childcare services be improved? Please tick all that apply.

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12. When choosing your ELC provider was there a particular type of ELC setting that you felt was missing in your area.  Please tick all that apply

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13. Delivery models for Early Learning and Childcare.

What would be your first choice for the pattern of delivery of funded ELC?

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14. Would you prefer your ELC weekly pattern to be:

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15. Did you feel there were any barriers to accessing your preferred ELC place?

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16. Do you feel you had enough information before applying for your ELC place?

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17. Where would you go to get information about Early Learning & Childcare? Please tick all that apply

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18. Are you aware that you can have a Cross Boundary funded ELC place in a Local Authority that you do not live in?

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19. Gaelic provision

Do you think there should be a Gaelic ELC provision in Midlothian?

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20. Application process

 How do you feel about the application process for a funded ELC place?

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21. Did you receive a place at your first choice of ELC setting?

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22. If you answered No, did you receive a place at your second or third choice?

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23. The current admissions criteria for allocating a funded place at local authority nurseries is as follows and places are allocated in order of the priorities below.

In the event of an early learning and childcare setting being oversubscribed, priority should be given according to the following criteria:

Priority 1. Children with additional support needs may be given priority after consultation with the Schools Group Manager (ASN) and the Schools Group Manager (Early Years)

Priority 2. Eligible children resident in Midlothian in order of cohort age - should there be more children in the cohort than there are available places then the cohort should be ranked according to date of birth and priority is given to the oldest children. Should children have the same DOB then date of application will apply.

Priority 3. Eligible children resident out-with Midlothian in order of age - should there be more children in the cohort than there are available places then the cohort should be ranked according to date of birth and priority given to the oldest children.

Catchment areas and denominational status do not apply to ELC settings

Do you agree with the criteria for admissions?

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24. Quality of settings

 How would you rate the Early Learning & Childcare services you are CURRENTLY using?

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25. Please tick the most appropriate box which best describes your views on the service(s) you currently use

  Strongly Agree Agree Neither Agree or Disagree Disagree Strongly Disagree Not Applicable
I feel my provider delivers a service which is reliable and of good quality
My Early Learning & Childcare provision is flexible enough to meet my needs
I think there is a good range of appropriate experiences available at my child’s provision
I get regular feedback about my child’s progress from my provider
I get a helpful response when I contact my provider about any matter which is of concern to me
At least once a year, there is a meeting to discuss my child’s progress
I think there are clear child protection guidelines when dealing with risks to children who use the service
I think there are effective links between parents and staff
I feel there are clear guidelines on procedures for making a complaint
I feel valued as parents/carers and involved in my child’s learning and development

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26. Deferrals

At present, parents of children with a January or February birthday, who are due to start school in the August when they are 4 and a half year old, can ask to defer and automatically get another year of funded ELC. 
Parents of children with a birthday from August to December, who are due to start school in the August just before they turn 5, need to apply for funding for another year of ELC.
The Scottish Government has agreed that from August 2023 children with August to December birthdays who request to defer will automatically get another year of funded ELC.

When is your child eligible to start primary school?

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27. Does your child have a January/February birthday?

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28. Does your child have an August - December birthday?

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29. Do you plan to apply for a deferred year i.e. an additional year at nursery?

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30. Additional Support Needs

 If you have a child with additional support needs:

  Yes No Not sure
Do they feel welcomed and included in the Early Learning and Childcare setting?
Have appropriate supports been put in place for your child?

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31. Final Comments

Thank you for completing this survey.

If you have any further comments about any aspect of Early learning and Childcare please leave then in the comment box. 

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