Local Constituency MSP, for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has welcomed the announcement made in the First Minister’s Programme for Government on 5th September whichseesa commitment from the Scottish Government to expand access to funded childcare.
The First Minister also committed to providing funding to ensure staff in the private, voluntary and independent sector who deliver early learning and childcare are paid a minimum of £12 an hour from April next year, plans to recruit 1000 additional childminders by the end of the Parliamentary session and is bringing forward legislation to ensure the right structures are in place to help make Scotland the best place in the world to be educated.
Commenting, Fiona said,
“I was pleased to see the First Minister place families at the heart of this Government’s priorities with the announcement of expanded childcare provision in his Programme for Government.
“I know from my casework and from speaking to local nurseries and parents that this will be a welcome announcement for many families across West Lothian.
“The SNP Scottish Government are expanding access to funded childcare from nine months through to the end of primary school in six ‘early adopter’ local authorities. This is alongside starting to phase in a national expansion for families with two-year-olds from next year, focussed on tackling child poverty.
“Scotland already has the most generous and high-quality early learning and childcare on offer in the UK andthe measures set out by the First Minister will help make it even fairer and more affordable for those who need it most.
“Ensuring affordable and accessible childcare will support employment, the economy and ultimately help lift families out of poverty, not only in West Lothian but across Scotland.”
ENDS
For further details about the Programme for Government see link below:https://www.gov.scot/news/growing-the-economy-and-tackling-poverty/