Children in Scotland chief executive Bronwen Cohen said, 'Most people agree that a good start has been made in implementing the strategy.
'But it is important that we don't short-change our children. Offering children and families easy access to affordable high-quality services in their own neighbourhood must remain the priority. Extending the concept of targets beyond part-time nursery education to encompass care and education would be helpful in achieving this.'
In a special issue of Children in Scotland magazine examining how effective the strategy has been, Linda Gregson, head of legislation, quality and training within the Early Education and Childcare Division of the Scottish Executive, said, 'Our task now is to ensure that we build on the progress of recent years, and that we continue to improve the quality of the service, in childcare and education, that we provide.
'Two issues in particular will be of immense importance as we strive to achieve this: our drive towards a better integration of children's services, and the training of the early years workforce.'
Meeting the Childcare Challenge: a childcare strategy for Scotland was first presented to the Westminster parliament on 19 May 1998. The late Donald Dewar outlined his vision of ensuring good quality, affordable childcare for children from birth to 14 in every neighbourhood. He said that this was to be achieved in three steps - raising the quality of care, including better integration of early education and care; making childcare more affordable; and making childcare more accessible.
Children in Scotland noted that the past four years have seen a growth in nursery education, out-of-school care and private nurseries, but playgroups and childminders have declined in numbers. Childcare partnerships have forged new relationships between local authorities and providers, but the cost of childcare in Scotland is still among the highest in the European Union, while staff pay and conditions in most services remain poor.
Why should we not aspire in Scotland to the same kind of public support as in Sweden - where three-quarters of children aged one to six attend publicly funded services staffed by well qualified (three year post-18 training) and properly remunerated staff?'