SNP challenged on nursery staffing

One in four pre-school children does not have access to a qualified nursery teacher, according to Scottish Government figures.

Liberal Democrat MSP Alison McInnes said children across Scotland were still without the service, despite an SNP pledge in 2007 to provide access for every child.

Children’s minister Aileen Campbell said statistics from the pre-school census showed that in 2011, 75 per cent of children had access, compared to 66 per cent in 2008.

Ms McInnes said that one in four pre-school children in Aberdeen did not have access to a registered teacher, while in Angus the figure was one in three.

Meanwhile, in the Western Isles the number is four out of five.