Early learning and childcare inspection findings: academic year 2024 to 2025
This report presents the main findings from inspections of Early learning and childcare settings carried out in the 2024 to 2025 academic year.
His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) carried out 151 inspections, of which:
- 64 were full model inspections
- 87 were short model inspections
Nine of the 151 settings required further inspection.
The number and type of settings inspected include:
- 99 local authority primary school nursery classes
- 43 settings from the private, voluntary and independent sector
- 9 local authority standalone settings
HMI carried out 10 further inspections, from which only 1 setting required further engagement.
HM Inspectors carried out inspections using quality indicators from How good is our early learning and childcare (HGIOELC). It draws on evidence from inspection visits, professional dialogue and pre-inspection questionnaires. This represents an approximate 5% sample of all ELC settings. In September 2025, the Quality improvement framework for the early learning and childcare sectors replaced the HGIOELC framework.
HMIE has a statutory duty to inspect and report on the quality of education and outcomes for learners in Scotland under the Education (Scotland) Act 2025. This sector level summary provides an overview of strengths, areas for improvement and patterns identified through inspection activity during the year.