Minimum Of £12 An Hour In Child Care Sector From April Of Next Year

5th September 2023

From the First ministers speech.

The Scottish Government has expanded ELC to 1,140 hours a year for all three and four year olds, and around a quarter of all two year olds.

I am pleased to announce we will go further.

Firstly, we will provide funding in six early adopter council areas to increase access to childcare from nine months old through to the end of primary school.

Secondly, we will accelerate the next phase in our expansion of childcare for families with two-year-olds, reaching thousands more families.

Thirdly, we will give parents and carers more scope to manage their childcare so it meets their specific needs. Some parents may want to use a mix of provision, and may find arranging and keeping track of their childcare stressful. So we will simplify that process - enabling parents to have more control over their childcare choices.

Fourth, we will support efforts to recruit and retain more childminders, with an aim to recruit a thousand more childminders by the end of this parliament.

And fifth, we know one of the biggest challenges the sector faces is recruitment. So I can confirm today we will provide funding so staff in the Private, Voluntary and Independent sector, who deliver funded early learning and childcare, are paid a minimum of £12 an hour from April of next year.

High quality early education and childcare is a perfect example of a policy that is both anti-poverty and pro-growth. I am proud that Scotland has the most generous childcare offer in the UK, and I am committed to ensuring we stay ahead and provide families with the crucial support they need.