Nicola Sturgeon will today (Wednesday) set out a revolution in
Scotland’s childcare system with wrap-around childcare available
all year round and free early years education extended to all 1 and
2-year-olds. She will announce that a re-elected SNP Government
will extend childcare to before and after-school, all year-round,
with those on the lowest incomes paying nothing - allowing more
people to afford to return to work, raising family incomes.
Speaking while campaigning in Glasgow, the...Request free trial
will today (Wednesday) set out a revolution in
Scotland’s childcare system with wrap-around childcare available
all year round and free early years education extended to all 1 and
2-year-olds.
She will announce that a re-elected SNP Government will
extend childcare to before and after-school, all year-round, with
those on the lowest incomes paying nothing - allowing more people
to afford to return to work, raising family incomes.
Speaking while campaigning in Glasgow, the SNP Leader will
highlight the huge investment the SNP government is making in Early
Years, including the expansion of free childcare provision to 1,140
hours, which is set to be completed in August this year.
And, in a further announcement, early years education will be
expanded to all 1 and 2 year olds - with children from low-income
households set to benefit first.
is expected to say:
“The last year has been extraordinarily tough on families,
and as we build a sustainable recovery from COVID-19, we need to do
everything we can to support them.
“In government the SNP has been investing massively in the
next generation - from the Baby Box to the roll-out of free school
meals or our flagship Scottish Child Payment - and in fact the
biggest capital investment made in the last term was in our massive
expansion of childcare provision.
“Despite the logistical challenges thrown up over the last
year, I am pleased that we will complete the expansion of free,
high quality childcare to 1,140 hours by August of this
year.
“But that is not the limit of our ambitions. We will build a
year-round system of ‘wraparound’ childcare, which will provide
care before and after school. We’ll ensure that those on the lowest
incomes pay nothing, with others making a fair and affordable
contribution. For many, this will make the difference between not
being able to afford to work because of high childcare costs and
being able to work or work longer, raising family incomes as a
result. That’s good for the family finances but it is also good for
the national finances as it will help boost the number of people in
work contributing more to the economy.
“We will also expand free early years education to all 1 and
2 year olds - starting with children from low-income
households.
“By giving both votes to the SNP on May 6th, people in
Scotland can elect a government which is absolutely committed to
supporting families in tough times - and to securing Scotland’s
long-term economic recovery."
