Scottish fees residence requirement - EU

My son is a British citizen and born in Scotland. He had been living in Scotland till 8 yo when we moved to Africa in 2014 due to my work commitment. In 2020 we moved to the EU and has been living in the EU because of my work commitment. He is looking to apply for 2025 entry.

I was reading under the Scottish Education ACT to be eligible for Scotland fees, the student — "was ordinarily resident in Scotland for at least 3 continuous years and settled in the United Kingdom immediately before leaving the United Kingdom and who has utilised a right of residence before IP completion day,"

I am confused if the word "immediately" apply to settled status only or also to 3 years residence in Scotland. Does he need to be ordinarily resident in Scotland for 3 years immediately before leaving the UK or it's just he needs to have lived for 3 years in Scotland at some point in his life that will be OK?

Does it matter we left Scotland to a third country, then 5 years later moved to the EU from the third country instead of moving to the EU directly from Scotland?