how good is our early learning and childcare

The quality of early learning and childcare (ELC) varies by country but generally shows strong government commitment and ongoing improvements. In Australia, the government is heavily investing in building a high-quality, accessible early childhood education and care system by expanding subsidized care and lifting educator wages to attract qualified staff. Despite challenges such as workforce shortages and equity gaps in access, reforms and funding aim to enhance quality and inclusivity for families, with a focus on curriculum- aligned care that supports lifelong learning foundations. In Scotland, the early learning and childcare system is characterized by a structured self- evaluation and improvement framework ("How good is our early learning and childcare?"), which emphasizes evidence-based continuous improvement, strong practitioner roles, targeted support for children's diverse needs, and collaborative partnerships with families and other agencies. This framework helps ensure children make very good developmental progress and that services maintain high standards and impact. Key indicators of quality include the qualifications of staff (with high proportions of formal qualifications in Australia), the emphasis on learning through play, use of natural and digital resources, and consistent monitoring and evaluation to improve outcomes for children and families. Overall, early learning and childcare show promising quality in both Australia and Scotland, with continued investment, regulation, and improvement efforts to meet high standards and support children effectively.