Scottish government announces new childcare initiatives

Scotland’s new First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced a new £15 million investment to help tackle child poverty. This investment will see thousands more low-income families benefit from free school age childcare.

Existing services for eligible families in areas of Dundee, Clackmannanshire, Glasgow and Inverclyde will be expanded, with new services set up in other communities across Scotland.

The money will also enable local football clubs to apply for funding totalling £2 million to support the provision of after school and holiday activities clubs, in a joint initiative with the Scottish Football Association.

There will also be nine other projects that will receive a share of the £15 million funding to continue offering childcare services in 2023-24.

The First Minister said:

‘This £15 million investment is part of our work to build a system of year-round school age childcare – fully funded for those who need it most.

Scotland already has the most generous childcare offer anywhere in the UK. All three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds are entitled to 1,140 hours a year of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC). We are working with partners to progress our childcare offer even further, with plans to expand ELC to one-year-olds and more two-year-olds.’