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By Euan Robson, Deputy Minister for Education and Young People, Scottish Executive Summer is a time many associate with holidays, winding down and relaxing.

Summer is a time many associate with holidays, winding down and relaxing.

But for Scotland's army of childcare workers, this isn't always the case!

As a plethora of holiday playschemes spring up to fill the gap left by term-time nurseries, the demand for skilled childcare workers mushrooms.

Summer can be one of the busiest times of the year for childcarers.

Our job, as a Government, is to ensure we can meet the need for childcare, strengthen the workforce and have staff who feel valued, motivated and equipped.

In Scotland we have much to be proud of. Latest early years workforce figures show numbers grew by 5 per cent last year to nearly 30,000. Nearly 75 per cent, now hold formal childcare qualifications. But we want better recruitment and retention practices, more flexible career paths and more qualifications.

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