Scotland's youngest children risk missing out on social, economic and educational benefits associated with the best early education and care services, as set out in the first European Commission Communication on early childhood education and care.
The communication advocated fully integrated, universally accessible services. However, the guidelines rejected targeting services and benefits to vulnerable groups.
Children in Scotland's chief executive Bronwen Cohen welcomed the focus on integrated services, saying: "We know so much about the important contribution of services to the learning, social and emotional development of children under three, yet we still only offer entitlements to a service for young children over three."
