The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has unveiled a new manifesto urging the next Scottish Government to overhaul early learning and childcare (ELC) so every child can access high‑quality, sustainable nursery provision. 

NDNA says the current funding model is failing many providers and families, with unequal local authority practices and financial pressures limiting parental choice. Their proposals call for funding to follow the child through an online account system, ensuring parents can use their entitlement in any registered setting. They also want national policy decisions taken out of local authority control to guarantee fairness and consistency across Scotland.
 

The manifesto highlights concerns that the expansion to 1,140 funded hours has not significantly improved children’s outcomes, while many nurseries report that funding does not cover the true cost of delivering high‑quality care. NDNA argues that future ELC policy must be fully costed, transparent, and developed in partnership with the sector to avoid repeating past mistakes.  

Chief Executive Tim McLachlan says the next government has “an opportunity to get it right,” placing children’s rights, parental choice, and sector sustainability at the centre of early years policy. 

Find out more about NDNA’s manifesto  

Read NDNA’s full manifesto