Scotland ‘lags behind’ rest of UK on affordable childcare

Liam McArthur, young people spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, called on the Scottish Parliament to acknowledge that childcare policies offered by the Conservative/Lib Dem Westminster coalition are “more generous”.

However, minister for children Aileen Campbell said that the Scottish Government is offering the “best package of free early learning and childcare anywhere in the UK”.

Meanwhile, Labour children spokesman Neil Bibby said he has concerns about the “lack of actions” from both the UK and Scottish governments.

Mr McArthur said Scotland “lags behind the rest of the UK in the provision of affordable childcare”, with “only one fifth of local authorities” offering enough childcare and fees “among the highest in the UK”.

However, he said “nationalistic myopia” is blinding the minister for children to “the benefits being delivered through the Pupil Premium in England and Wales”.

He said: “Targeting resources at those children who most need them, enabling schools to put in additional, tailored support, that is most appropriate in each instance.

“Save the Children, amongst others, point to what a similar system in Scotland might achieve.

“Yet the mere fact that the Pupil Premium is being taken forward by the coalition Government south of the border means it is dogmatically rejected by Scottish ministers.”

He added: “The nationalist narrative simply cannot tolerate the suggestion that the approach being taken by the UK coalition Government may be more generous or more effective.”

Mr McArthur queried the Scottish Government’s new “statutory guarantee” of 600 hours of free childcare for three to four-year-olds.

He said the SNP made “a similar assertion” in 2007 to “deliver 570 hours of nursery provision to this same group of children by 2010”.

He said while 570 hours are available in England, “in all but two council areas in Scotland the figure is currently 100 hours less than that”.

He added that the pledge for additional support to looked-after two-year-olds “is markedly less generous than what is being offered in England and Wales”.

He said: “In England, investment is being made in 260,000 childcare places for 40% of two-year-olds from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

“This entitlement to 15 hours free early education places represents a £380 million commitment by the UK Government. In Wales, the Flying Start programme is making similar headway.”