New education/childcare minister in Scotland
John Swinney MSP returns as Scotland’s First Minister following the elections earlier in May – and has now appointed his Cabinet team.
He named Màiri McAllan, MSP for Clydesdale, as the new Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic. She has previously served as a minister for housing, wellbeing, net zero and the environment.
Siobhaian Brown MSP for Ayr was appointed as the new Minister for Children, Young People, and The Promise. She previously served as a Minister for Victims and Community Safety.
SNP’s manifesto promised:
“A transformational national expansion of childcare, from 9 months to the end of primary school, 52 weeks a year, making life easier for families.”
“We will make work more affordable by expanding childcare. All children from nine-months to the end of primary school will be entitled to help with childcare, before school, after school and all-year round.”
Tim McLachlan, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said:
“NDNA Scotland warmly welcomes the re-appointment of Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and offers our congratulations as he takes on this important role. This is a crucial moment for the country and an opportunity to renew focus on the early years, recognising the vital role that high-quality childcare plays in supporting children’s development, enabling parents to work and study, and underpinning Scotland’s wider economy.
“We look forward to working directly with Màiri McAllan MSP who has been named as the new Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, and Siobhian Brown MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise. They have much to get to grips with as private and voluntary nurseries across Scotland continue to face significant challenges.
“Despite delivering a substantial share of funded early learning and childcare (ELC), many providers remain under intense financial pressure because funding rates often do not reflect the true cost of delivery. Rising staffing, food, energy and operating costs, ongoing difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified staff, and a lack of parity with local authority provision are all putting the sustainability of services at risk. At the same time, settings are working hard to meet increasing levels of need among children and families, while maintaining the flexibility and year-round provision that so many communities rely on.
“I have written to both the Minister and Cabinet Secretary urging them to work with NDNA Scotland to fix the broken childcare system and deliver a new fairer system. This will mean a sustainable funding settlement for private and voluntary providers, one that properly reflects costs, supports payment of the Real Living Wage, and helps secure a stable workforce for the future. If Scotland is serious about giving every child the best start in life, then it must ensure that all parts of the ELC sector are valued, supported and able to thrive.”
Speaking outside Bute House, John Swinney said that he was “immensely proud” to unveil his “leaner, more agile government” which he reduced from twelve to nine.
He told journalists: “This new team will hit the ground running, delivering major progress on our priorities within the first 100 days before continuing to deliver on the emphatic mandate given to us by the people of Scotland.”
He added that team bring: “experience, drive and a determination to deliver for Scotland”.
The Cabinet ministers will be formally agreed by the King.
Find out more about the Cabinet here: https://www.gov.scot/news/first-minister-appoints-cabinet-to-deliver-for-scotland/
- Scotland
- childcare
- early education
- early years
- Early Years Scotland
- funding
- nurseries
- Scotland
- Scottish Government
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