While the Barcelona targets, set in 2002, are useful for setting specified levels of childcare provision, they need to be widened to address the quality of services and the wider purposes they serve, beyond care for working parents.
A recent Scottish government report found child poverty could be costing Scotland up to £750m. However, the report also acknowledges that breaking the poverty cycle could result in "incalculable long-term benefits". Scotland now has the opportunity to develop a new strategy that could break the cycle of poverty.
Scotland's early years framework could ensure that services are delivered in a genuinely holistic way for children, following the recommendations of the OECD's Starting Strong II report and taking into account forthcoming recommendations by Unicef.
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