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. Siobhain… Continue reading New education/childcare minister in Scotland
Regions: Scotland
Scotland: Supporting early learning and childcare ahead of the Holyrood elections
Ahead of the Holyrood elections on 7 May, NDNA Scotland has brought together a range of resources to help nursery members and parents make informed choices that support early learning and childcare in their local communities and across Scotland. These resources explain what political parties are saying about early learning and childcare and why these… Continue reading Scotland: Supporting early learning and childcare ahead of the Holyrood elections
Meeting with stakeholders in West Lothian
The Scottish Greens attended NDNA’s member nursery, First Adventures, as part of their election campaign. NDNA Scotland took part in a meeting with the co-leaders to raise awareness of the challenging situation in West Lothian where the council has decided to no longer fund ELC places for children who live across the boundary, and lobby them for change. Hannah Murison, NDNA Scotland’s… Continue reading Meeting with stakeholders in West Lothian
NDNA takes part in ELC hustings
Colleagues from NDNA Scotland took part in Scotland’s early learning and childcare hustings ahead of the election next month. All the major parties from Holyrood were represented for a debate which covered expanding the current offer to families, addressing cross-border issues between councils and improving provision for additional support needs (ASN) in the early years. NDNA presented our policy position on simplifying… Continue reading NDNA takes part in ELC hustings
NDNA Scotland announces winner of Children’s Rights Award 2026
The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland has proudly announced the winners of its second annual Children’s Rights Award. Members, nursery leaders and practitioners gathered at our spring NDNATalk event in Scotland to celebrate exceptional rights-based practice across early learning and childcare (ELC) settings. The award recognises outstanding work in embedding the United Nations Convention… Continue reading NDNA Scotland announces winner of Children’s Rights Award 2026
Charity launches manifesto for the best start for Scotland’s children
The National Day Nurseries Association is calling on the next Scottish Government to give children the best start with the right policies in early learning and childcare (ELC). The proposals include a radical change in the delivery of ELC by ensuring funding follows the child through an online account that parents can use to pay registered childcare providers. This approach to… Continue reading Charity launches manifesto for the best start for Scotland’s children
National nursery organisation slams council vote to remove parental choice from funded childcare offer
Despite a hard-fought campaign by early years and parenting organisations, West Lothian Council voted not to fund early learning and childcare (ELC) places for families who live outside West Lothian in private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) nurseries. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland along with parent campaigners Pregnant then Screwed have raised this issue with… Continue reading National nursery organisation slams council vote to remove parental choice from funded childcare offer
Council cuts would force parents to move settled nursery children or pay thousands
Campaigning organisations are urging West Lothian Council to drop its proposal to save money by no longer funding early learning and childcare (ELC) places for families who live outside the borders of West Lothian in private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) nurseries. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland along with parent campaigners Pregnant then Screwed say… Continue reading Council cuts would force parents to move settled nursery children or pay thousands
Disappointment as Scottish Budget fails to address funding system inequalities
The Scottish Government unveiled its pre-election budget with barely a mention for its Early Learning and Childcare 1140 hour policy. Following enquiries from NDNA Scotland, the Scottish Government has confirmed an additional £11million each year from 2026-27 to support local authorities to set sustainable rates that enable staff delivering funded ELC in PVI sector to… Continue reading Disappointment as Scottish Budget fails to address funding system inequalities
Scottish MSPs raise concerns over 1140 hours and PVI sustainability
Last week’s Education and Skills Portfolio Questions in the Scottish Parliament brought forward the ongoing challenges faced by PVI nurseries, particularly around the sustainability of delivering the expanded 1,140 hours of funded ELC. The government reiterated its commitment to the expansion and noted that research published in 2024 showed high uptake and signs of improvements… Continue reading Scottish MSPs raise concerns over 1140 hours and PVI sustainability
Big increase in percentage of children attending private nurseries in Scotland
New research published yesterday (7 October) showed that more families in Scotland were choosing to send their children to private and voluntary nurseries. The Scottish Household Survey 2024 Childcare report revealed that 32% of households with children aged up to five used private nurseries compared with just 24% in private nurseries in 2018. Numbers of… Continue reading Big increase in percentage of children attending private nurseries in Scotland
Scotland’s Childcare Guarantee calls for expanded funded hours
Image credit: Chris Watt Photography
NDNA Scotland celebrates 20th anniversary with Children’s Rights Award
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland celebrated 20 years of supporting nurseries across Scotland in a special event with members and the Minister. Around 60 nursery managers, owners and practitioners attended the NDNATalk event in Edinburgh yesterday to announce the winner of the first ever NDNA Children’s Rights Award which celebrates exemplary rights-based practice in… Continue reading NDNA Scotland celebrates 20th anniversary with Children’s Rights Award
Council votes against the removal of 150 places from PVI sector
Councillors in Falkirk have voted for an amendment that dismissed all children’s services cuts on the grounds of inadequate Equality Poverty and Impact Assessment which could potentially be challenged on a legal basis. The result of this vote means the plan to remove 150 funded children from PVI nurseries to council nurseries will not happen.… Continue reading Council votes against the removal of 150 places from PVI sector
Falkirk Council to move 150 children from flexible funded places from private nurseries to their council settings
Private and voluntary nurseries in Falkirk are fighting for survival because Falkirk Council plans to remove 150 children from funded nursery places into council-run settings. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland is opposing the proposals on the grounds that it removes parental choice, will seriously threaten the sustainability of existing nursery provision for current and… Continue reading Falkirk Council to move 150 children from flexible funded places from private nurseries to their council settings
NDNA Scotland says Quality Improvement Framework not fit for purpose
Scotland’s new Quality Improvement Framework is being shown to the sector by Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland. During November, nursery owners first had the chance to look at the framework during “familiarisation sessions”. This will replace the existing frameworks from the two inspectorates. The actual new framework won’t be published until early 2025. Jonathan Broadbery,… Continue reading NDNA Scotland says Quality Improvement Framework not fit for purpose
Large parts of UK classed as “childcare deserts”
A new report looking at childcare availability and accessibility in nine European countries and Australia showed England as being the second worst, next to France. Scotland was in the top three after two Nordic countries and Wales was mid-table. According to the report by Victoria University in Melbourne, 45% of England is a “childcare desert”,… Continue reading Large parts of UK classed as “childcare deserts”
Two councils in Scotland still to decide on childcare funding rates
Despite extra funding and guidance on paying a sustainable rate for funded early learning and childcare (ELC) being available from the Scottish Government from April, two councils have still not set out what partner providers will be paid in 2024/25. National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland has followed up an earlier investigation in May which… Continue reading Two councils in Scotland still to decide on childcare funding rates
Joint Survey of Care Inspectorate Inspection Experiences
In November 2023 NDNA, along with Early Years Scotland (EYS), Care and Learning Alliance (CALA) and Scottish Childminders Association (SCMA) conducted a joint survey which asked providers to share their experiences of Care Inspectorate Inspections. This was in response to a wide range of concerns raised with all organisations about difficult experiences. NDNA took on… Continue reading Joint Survey of Care Inspectorate Inspection Experiences
Scotland’s parties focus on reducing child poverty
With most of the main parties publishing manifestos for Scotland ahead of the General Election on 4 July, NDNA Scotland looks at a round-up of pledges which impact the ELC sector. NDNA has looked at policies from (in alphabetical order) Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Greens, Scottish Labour, Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party. We have… Continue reading Scotland’s parties focus on reducing child poverty