Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon pledges free childcare for one- and two-year-olds

It comes after the first minister Nicola Sturgeon promised to expand early education and childcare if the Scottish National Party won this year’s election in May.

In a strategy document, published this week, the Scottish Government sets out plans to extend its policy to all one and two-year-olds, starting with those from low-income households.

Currently all children aged three and four, and eligible two-year-olds, receive 1140 hours of funded childcare per year. The policy was rolled out nationally last month following delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has however raised concerns over the sustainability of settings if funded childcare is made available to all children.

It highlighted the current low take-up of funded places for eligible two-year-olds

Chief executive Purnima Tanuku warned that ongoing concerns about the current increase of funded hours would need to be addressed before the Scottish Government moves into further expansion plans.

Other plans included in ‘A Fairer, Greener Scotland: Programme for Government 2021-22’ include:

• A new system of wraparound childcare for school age children. This year, a five-year delivery plan will be published, along with an evaluation of pilot projects to inform full implementation. A public panel of parents, carers, children and young people will also be established.
• A national mission to end child poverty by rolling our Scottish Child Payment to children under 16 by the end of 2022 and doubling it to £20 per week as quickly as possible thereafter.
• A further investment of £1 billion over this Parliament to tackle the poverty related attainment gap and support the recruitment of 3,500 additional teachers and 500 classroom assistants.

• The Scottish Government's strategy is published here