Nursery World - Scotland's childcare expansion 'about to implode', nurseries warn

Freedom of Information responses obtained by the Scottish Conservatives reveal concerns from councils and providers about the government’s childcare expansion plans for 1,140 hours.

In emails sent to local authorities and the Scottish government, nursery providers warn that they are ‘fighting for survival’ and that they are ‘on their knees’, with the policy ‘about to implode’.

Currently all three- and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds are entitled to 600 hours a year of funded childcare, but this will almost double to 1,140 hours by 2020 - the equivalent of the 30 hours childcare scheme operating in England.

The documents that have been released also include a briefing by Scottish government civil servants citing a range of private providers’ concerns, including: lower rates paid to partner providers, a lack of engagement and access to capital funding, and a lack of involvement in the expansion to 1,140 hours.

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