Question reference: S5W-33941
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 9 December 2020
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities will have delivered the required spaces to ensure 1,140 hours of funded childcare by December 2020, and which it expects will have (a) done so by April 2021 and (b) not done so by August 2021.
Answer
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic local authorities and ELC providers have continued to work extremely hard to progress the expansion and ensure as many families as possible can benefit from increased hours of funded ELC ahead of the statutory implementation date.
Work has continued to secure the required workforce and to re-phase capital programmes as construction activity resumed after lockdown.
I can advise that local authorities are continuing to offer expanded hours where they can, and to progress expansion plans ahead of setting a new statutory date. 14 Local Authorities are already offering 1140 hours to all families; and 18 Local Authorities are offering at least 600 hours of funded ELC to all families, and 1140 to some or most families.
Of the 18 Local Authorities still to deliver full roll out of 1140 the following indicative dates have been shared with the Scottish Government, however councils may deliver before these dates. The indicative dates below are subject to change due to future changes in public health measures and/or Covid-19.
- Glasgow City Council is delivering an 1140 model but is unable to ensure universal provision due to current public health measures
- Orkney and Perth and Kinross are working towards full role out in January 2021
- West Dunbartonshire are working towards full role out in April 2021
- Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, East Ayrshire, East Lothian, East Dunbartonshire, City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Highland, North Ayrshire, Moray, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian are working towards full roll out in August 2021.