Plans to double Scots childcare must be brought back
The Tories say the measure is needed to allow parents to get back to work in the aftermath of the Coronavirus lockdown.
The measure, which would double the current free provision from 600 to 1140 hours was scheduled to come into force in August. But it was shelved at the end of March just after lockdown was introduced to allow hard-pressed councils to focus on their Covid response.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdTory education spokesman Jamie Greene has now written to the Children's minister Maree Todd asking when the obligation will be reintroduced.
“After three months of lockdown, it is abundantly clear that without reliable childcare parents simply cannot get back to work,” he said.
“The promised expansion of funded childcare to 1140 hours was something that nurseries have already been working towards and parents were depending on.
“The SNP government must now clarify when this commitment will be reintroduced so that nurseries can plan and parents can work.
“In addition, nurseries who have already spent money updating premises and hiring staff must not lose out."
Mr Greene says he has been informed that a number of councils are now unable to honour their previous commitments to provide the expanded, funded hours.
This could lead to a reduction in provision in the private, voluntary and independent sector which in turn could add to the burden of provision on council-provided childcare settings.
Even before the pledge had been shelved, there had been question about whether it would be delivered amid question marks over staffing and buildings.
A message from the Editor:
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.
Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.
By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.
Joy Yates
Editorial Director
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.