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xCOVID-19: Scottish Government delays childcare expansion
Date: 9th April 2020
Category:
Social security
The expansion of funded Early Learning and Childcare from 600 to 1140 hours per year for eligible children has been delayed in light of COVID-19. Local authorities are no longer bound by the August 2020 deadline.
A joint statement issued by the Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd MSP and COSLA spokesperson for Children and Young People Councillor Stephen McCabe, gave the rationale behind this decision that COVID-19 had made it “impossible to continue with the planned recruitment and infrastructure projects required to support expansion.”
- Read the full joint statement issued by the Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd and COSLA spokesperson for Children and Young People Councillor Stephen McCabe.
- Learn more about the expansion of early learning and childcare in Together’s State of Children’s Rights Report 2019 (pp. 70-72)
Children in Scotland CEO Jackie Brock raised her concerns over the decision to delay saying that expansion is an opportunity to secure positive outcomes for children.