Published 29 November 2024

Children attending Early Learning & Childcare in West Dunbartonshire are very well supported, provided with exciting learning opportunities and nurtured by well trained staff.

A report to the Educational Services Committee shows average attendance at Council run Early Learning and Childcare Centres at 87 percent, an increase of seven percent since January.  

Figures show 56 percent of children have achieved the benchmark in literacy, an increase of four percent since 2016-17, and 34 percent of children achieved the target set for numeracy, an increase of 15 percent since 2016-17. 

The report also predicts that more than 80 percent of pre-school children are on track to achieve the early level of the Curriculum for Excellence, in literacy and numeracy, by the end of Primary one.

Convener of Educational Services, Councillor Clare Steel, said: “We are fully committed to ensure children get the best start to their education and it is clear staff are dedicated to the education and wellbeing of the children they care for. It is also pleasing to see the high percentage of children who are set to meet the targets set for the end of their first year at school.”   

Vice Convener of Educational Services, Councillor John Millar, said: “It is very pleasing to see how committed our employees are in education and their hard work is testament to the great progress being made in our early learning and childcare centres.  Families rely on good quality childcare and it is great to see high attendance at our centres where children receive engaging and stimulating activities while under our care. I would like to thank all our staff who work hard to give children the best start in their education journey.”