The expanded funded hours was already being delivered within early learning and childcare settings (ELC) in some local authorities, but the scheme has now been rolled out nationally across Scotland.
According to the Scottish Government, 130,000 children are set to benefit from the scheme, saving families around £4,900 in childcare costs per child, per year.
The 1140 hours is available to all three- and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds.
A legal obligation on education authorities to make 1140 hours of funded ELC available to all those eligible came into effect on 1 August.
Under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, education authorities are now legally obligated to make 1140 hours of funded ELC available to eligible children.
The expansion of Scotland’s funded childcare hours from 600 to 1,400 a year was due to come into effect last August, but was put on hold in April 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon visited Fallin Nursery in Stirling to announce the introduction of the scheme.
She said, ‘I am delighted to announce that every local authority in Scotland has assured us they are ready to deliver the 1,140 hours offer by the start of the new term – a truly transformational offer that will benefit children and families all over the country.
'Getting to this point, especially given the challenges of the pandemic, has taken a mammoth effort and I’d like to thank local authorities and private and voluntary sector providers for helping to make it happen.’
