Equality Impact Assessment
Part 1: Background and information
Title of proposal
Brief description
of proposal
(including intended
outcomes &
purpose)
Early Learning and Childcare – Increasing flexibility in
provision available.
As a result of the Children and Young People (Scotland)
Act 2014, Fife Council are required to offer more flexible
models of delivery for Early Learning and Childcare (ELCC)
from August 2015.
One of the key principles of the policy is that eligible
children will have access to Early Learning and Childcare
regardless of age, gender, race, religion or need.
Parents and/or carers will be able to apply for available
options at any Fife Council ELCC provision that best meets
their family needs. Not all flexible options will be available
at every ELCC facility but options will be available in at
least 1 ELCC facility within each extended nursery area (23
in Fife).
Places will be awarded in line with criteria identified in the
updated Early Learning and Childcare Admissions Policy as
detailed in Appendix 1 of the Executive Committee paper.
This criteria is in line with the existing Early Years
Admissions Policy with the addition of criteria for options
that will not be available in every ELCC provision, to ensure
equitable access for children to these options.
As a result of proposed legislation there is also expected to
be an increase in eligible 2 year old children from August
2015, where children of families who meet eligibility criteria
for free school meals will also be entitled to Early Learning
and Childcare from August 2015. This will apply to children
born on or after 1 March 2013 and will increase the number
of eligible 2 year old children from approximately 15% to
27% (national figures).
In order to provide more flexible options for children, some
staff working patterns will need to change. We are
proposing that some member of staff can choose to change
their working pattern to a compressed week where they
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work 4 longer days and 1 shorter day per week. Part time
staff will be able to choose to work their hours over 4 days
instead of 5. This will still equate to 36 hours per week
(FTE) for staff in line with single status terms and
conditions.
Lead Directorate /
Service / Partnership
EqIA lead person
EqIA contributors
Start date of EqIA
Education and Children’s Services
Gillian Johnston
Project Officer – 600 Hours
Early Years Team
Rothesay House
Glenrothes
Tel: 03451 555555 ext 444544
Email: Gillian.johnston@fife.gov.uk
Carrie Lindsay, Area Education Officer
Jane Mason, Early Years Learning Officer
Multi-Agency Consultation Group
Headteacher, Teacher and Early Years Officer Sub Groups
(including union representation)
On-line Parental Questionnaire
Wednesday 3 September 2014
How does the proposal meet one or more of the general duties under the
Equality Act 2010? (Consider proportionality and relevance on p.12 and see p.13
for more information on what the general duties mean)
General duties
Eliminating discrimination, harassment
and victimisation
Advancing equality of opportunity
Fostering good relations
Please Explain
No positive or negative impacts identified
on any of the protected characteristics.
Flexibility within delivery will require the
movement of some staff onto different
working patterns. This will be done on a
voluntary basis only.
No positive or negative impacts identified
on any of the protected characteristics.
Having considered the general duties above, if there is likely to be no impact on any
of the equality groups, parts 2 and 3 of the impact assessment may not need to be
completed. Please provide an explanation (based on evidence) if this is the case.
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Part 2: Evidence and Impact Assessment
Explain what the positive and / or negative impact of the policy change is on
any of the protected characteristics
Protected
Positive impact
Negative impact
No impact
characteristic
Disabled people
All eligible
children will
continue to be
offered ELCC
regardless of
disability. A
higher priority for
places will
continue to be
given to children
who have
identified needs
so that they can
access ELCC in
a provision that
meets their
additional
requirements.
Sexual orientation
Women
Increased flexibility
Parents and/or
for ELCC may
carers may not be
enable some
able to access the
women to return to
flexible option that
education or training best meets their
by accessing
needs. Availability
different models of
of these options is
delivery.
due to increase as
staffing allows.
More working
patterns will be
Some members of
available for existing staff may need to
staff increasing their move their working
choice in the hours
location to remain
they work.
on the same
working pattern.
This will be done in
conjunction with
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Men
Transgendered
people
Race (includes
gypsy travellers)
Age (including
older people aged
60+)
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any staff affected to
make sure that any
negative impact is
reduced.
Increased flexibility
Parents and/or
for ELCC may
carers may not be
enable some men to able to access the
return to education
flexible option that
or training by
best meets their
accessing different
needs. Availability
models of delivery.
of these options is
due to increase as
More working
staffing allows.
patterns will be
available for existing Some members of
staff increasing their staff may need to
choice in the hours
move their working
they work.
location to remain
on the same
working pattern.
This will be done in
conjunction with
any staff affected to
make sure that any
negative impact is
reduced.
All eligible
children will
continue to be
offered ELCC
regardless of
gender of the
parents and/or
carers.
All eligible
children will
continue to be
offered ELCC
regardless of
race.
All eligible
children will
continue to be
offered ELCC
regardless of
age.
Children and
young people
Increased flexibility
will be available in
how eligible children
can access Early
Learning and
Childcare.
Flexible models will
not be available in
all Fife Council
Early Learning and
Childcare facilities.
Longer sessions
may not be suitable
for all children.
Religion or belief
All eligible
children will
continue to be
offered ELCC
regardless of
religion.
Pregnancy &
maternity
Marriage & civil
partnership
Please also consider the impact of the policy change in relation to:
Positive impact
Negative impact
Looked after
An extension of 2
children and care
year old provision
leavers
may make 2 year
old ELCC provision
more accessible for
LAC2 year old
children.
Privacy (e.g.
information security
& data protection)
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No impact
All looked after
children will
continue to be
offered ELCC. A
higher priority for
places will
continue to be
given to children
who have
identified needs
so that they can
access ELCC in
a provision that
meets their
additional
requirements.
Economy


Please record the evidence used to support the impact assessment. This
could include officer knowledge and experience, research, customer surveys,
service user engagement.
Any evidence gaps can also be highlighted below.
Evidence used
1. Officer and staff knowledge
2. Preferred models of delivery to meet family
needs
3. Feedback on proposed models and updated
admissions criteria
Evidence gaps
1. Staff feedback on possible new working
patterns
Source of evidence
Carrie Lindsay – Area
Education Officer, Jane
Mason – Early Years
Learning Officer,
Headteacher, Teacher and
Early years Officer Sub
Groups
On-line Parent
Questionnaire
Parent / Carer Focus
Groups
Planned action to address
evidence gaps
Consultation meetings
arranged for all Early Years
Officers during November in
conjunction with union
representation.
2.
3.
Part 3: Recommendations and Sign Off
Recommendation
1. Update the Early Learning and
Childcare Policy to add
admissions criteria for flexible
option not available in all Fife
Council ELCC facilities.
2. Continue to monitor the number
of people who are unable to
access their first choice for
ELCC and increase provision in
identified areas of need.
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Lead person
Gillian Johnston
Gillian Johnston
Timescale
Policy updated and
included in the
Executive
Committee paper of
18 November 2014.
Monitor places after
ELCC Admissions
Panels and adjust
for the following
year.
3. Monitor uptake of 2 year old
placements to ensure all eligible
families can access their
entitlement
Gillian Johnston
Monitor 2 year old
admissions after
each panel process
against projected
numbers for each
area.
4.
5.
Sign off
(By signing off the EqIA, you are agreeing that the EqIA represents a thorough and
proportionate analysis of the policy based on evidence listed above and there is no
indication of unlawful practice and the recommendations are proportionate.
Date completed:
16 October 2014
Date sent to Equalities Unit:
Enquiry.equalities@fife.gov.uk
Senior Officer: Carrie Lindsay
name
Designation: Area Education Officer,
Education and Children’s Services
FOR EQUALITIES UNIT ONLY
EqIA Ref No.
EqIA/509/14/EducCS
Date checked and
initials
16/10/14 - TW
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Equality Impact Assessment Summary Report
(to be attached as an Appendix to the committee report or for consideration by any
other partnership forum, board or advisory group as appropriate)
Which Committee report does this IA relate to (specify meeting date)?
Early Learning and Childcare
Executive Committee Meeting
18 November 2014
What are the main impacts on equality?
All delivery models for Early Learning and Childcare (ELCC) will not be available
in every Fife Council ELCC facility. At least one nursery in each extended nursery
area will offer every model available.
Staff patterns of work will need to change to offer full day places.
What are the main recommendations to enhance or mitigate the impacts
identified?
Additional section for admissions criteria to be added to the Early Learning and
Childcare Admissions policy to ensure equity of access for all children to these
options based on extended nursery areas rather than local nursery areas.
Staff will move to a different pattern of working hours on a voluntary basis only.
If there are no equality impacts on any of the protected characteristics,
please explain.
One of the key principles of the ELCC Admissions policy is that eligible children
will have access to Early Learning and Childcare regardless of age, gender, race,
religion or need.
Further information is available from: Name / position / contact details:
Carrie Lindsay
Area Education Officer
Rothesay House
Telephone: 03451 555555 Ext. 480218
Email: carrie.lindsay@fife.gov.uk
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