Children in Scotland called for a full-time subsidised place for every three- and four-year-old and access to 'high quality, affordable services'
to meet the needs of all children and parents.
Chief executive Bronwen Cohen said Scotland needed 'a strategy that works towards achieving universal services for children that integrate care and learning. The most logical step would be to extend the current part-time nursery provision to full-time.'
Children in Scotland also stressed the need to set targets to improve pay and conditions in the sector.
The Scottish Pre-School Play Association raised concerns about the voluntary sector's sustainability in the face of 'a trend towards more formal, statutory centre-based provision', an unwillingness by some local authorities to work in partnership, and funding that only covers '33 weeks of two-and-a-half hours per day five days per week', despite the fact that most voluntary providers open for at least 38 weeks a year.
The Scottish Childminding Association said childminders were 'overburdened by regulation' and 'new people are not completing the application process and as a result the sector is still reducing in size'.
It also noted, 'Without a requirement to be qualified, we are already seeing a reduction in the workforce funding being allocated by some local authorities to fund qualifications for childminders.'
The inquiry was set up in February to examine the progress made by the Scottish Executive in delivering early years education and childcare. The results will be published in the autumn.