Scotland to pilot funded childcare expansion

The plans come as part of a package of measures aimed at improving childcare in Scotland, anounced by First Minister Humza Yousaf as part of his 2023/24 programme for government.

Yousaf described the programme as “anti-poverty and pro-growth”.

He said the government will “accelerate the next phase in our expansion of childcare for families with two-year olds, reaching thousands more families”, addressing MPs in the Scottish Parliament yesterday (5 September).

• Funded childcare expansion plans in doubt amid nursery closures

• Schools to extend reach through more places for two-year-olds

He also announced a pilot to increase access to childcare from nine-months old to the end of primary school, which will be funded and tested in six council areas initially.

Plans to broaden the scope of childcare management for parents and carers were also outlined, to account for families’ individual needs.

“Some parents may want to use a mix of provision, and may find arranging and keeping track of their childcare stressful,” Yousaf said. “So we will simplify that process - enabling parents to have more control over their childcare choices.”

Recruitment in the early years sector was raised as another priority, with Yousaf confirming that funding will be provided to ensure childcare staff in the private and voluntary sector are paid a minimum of £12 per hour.

He added that the government will aim to recruit one thousand more childminders before the end of the parliamentary term.

Campaigners have welcomed the prioritisation of early years education, but have criticised the lack of detail on Yousaf’s campaign pledge to increase the Scottish child payment from the current level of £25 to £30 per week.

John Dickie, director of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland said: “It is really disappointing not to hear any further detail on the First Minister’s commitment to look to increase the Scottish child payment, or any action to mitigate the two child limit in UK benefits.

“It is now vital that he uses the forthcoming budget to deliver on the campaign commitments he made, and at the very, very least increase the Scottish child payment to £30 per week.”

Purmina Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, welcomed the measures but warned that the private and voluntary sector needs adequate support to deliver them.

“Early learning and childcare providers consistently report that the biggest barrier to improving pay is the low funding rates they receive and currently only three councils are on target to increase their hourly funding rates in line with spiralling costs. The Scottish government will need to significantly boost childcare funding to enable providers to pay their staff £12 per hour from April.

“In order to accelerate the two-year-old offer and implement the early adopter scheme, providers will need urgent support with their serious workforce and funding issues,” she added.

The announcements come as part of Yousaf’s 2023/24 programme for government, which also includes plans to increase pay of social care workers, support care leavers into employment, and consult on a potential ban on disposable single-use vapes.