Scottish Government’s plans for childcare announced
The Scottish Government has now published its Programme for Government, including an update on plans for childcare.
The Programme for Government (PfG) 2026 to 2031 sets out the priorities Scottish Government would like to achieve by the next election in 2031 and how they are planning to achieve it. The key elements of the latest programme are ‘Eradicating Child Poverty’, ‘Growing the Economy’, ‘Tackling the Climate Emergency’, ‘Delivering a stronger NHS and Public Services’ and an outline of the legislative programme for their first year of government.
The full programme can be read here.
There are a few sections of the programme particularly relevant to the early years education and childcare sectors. Firstly, they promise to start work on publishing and consulting on a blueprint for a new childcare offer focused on ‘what matters most to families’. It also outlines plans to deliver a national breakfast club offer with provision for all primary schools from August 2027, backed by £44 million each year. They plan to fund a range of targeted childcare support for low-income families, including the Extra Time programme with the Scottish Football Association, and the childcare Early Adopter Communities. Finally, there is the promise to support high quality, sustainable early learning and childcare (ELC), investing a further £13.4 million to enable childcare professionals delivering funded ELC in the private and third sectors to continue to be paid at least the real Living Wage, which should benefit up to 13,000 childcare professionals.
Tim McLachlan, Chief Executive of NDNA, said: “Investing in children’s early learning and childcare pays dividends – with better life chances for children, improved educational outcomes and supporting parents to work, reducing the drivers of poverty.
“The Scottish Government’s plans for year-round funded ELC for children from nine-months onwards will be welcome support for families. It will be vital that there is a thriving PVI nursery sector to support this as they are the ones with the flexibility and the expertise, skills, and facilities needed to work with our youngest children.
“Any expansion of funded ELC has to be given time and needs thorough consultation. It must be done in genuine partnership with parents and providers so it can meet families’ needs in a way that is sustainable.
“There are still issues with the existing 1140 offer that must be addressed, from parental choice to adequate funding as well as staff recruitment and retention in the ELC workforce.
“While we welcome any efforts to boost pay in our sector, the ambition should be more than just a living wage for the skilled and experienced workforce, working day in day out to give children the best possible start in life. Our FOI research on council’s funding plans showed that the majority are just sticking the minimum increases required. This fails to take account of the true costs of delivering ELC places for children and families.
“The Scottish Government needs to make sure that lessons are learned from the 2020 expansion. This includes realistic planning, making funding truly follow the child and recognising the importance of, and protecting, PVI providers and childminders.”
First Minister John Swinney in his statement to the Scottish Parliament said, “We will deliver more, and more flexible, childcare, which will be available from nine months until the end of primary school.”
In her response to the statement, Scottish Green’s co-leader, Gillian MacKay MSP, discussed the challenges of cross-border places and parental choice and said, “This funding is part of a national scheme, so parents cannot understand why they are being excluded because of their postcode. I hope that, as part of the childcare review, the Government will look at this issue and work with local authorities to solve it.”
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