August in Scotland brings familiar headlines about SQA exam results for young people and ‘first day at school’ news items about children starting Primary School- key milestones in life’s journey, and worthy of reporting.

The same period also heralds the busiest intake point of the year for the Early Years sector. Yet, whilst thousands of our youngest children in Scotland will take a huge step in starting at nursery or going to a childminder this August, their experiences are unlikely to receive similar attention.

Nonetheless, the early years of children’s lives do matter.

The combined momentum of the global economic downturn from 2007 onwards, and an increasing recognition of the significance of the first few years of life as a basis for positive outcomes into adulthood, have underpinned the Scottish Government’s position in promoting high quality Early Years education and childcare provision. Ensuring ‘the best start in life for every child’ has endured as a dominant Scottish........

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