Early years delay will come as a blow to parents, say Greens
Responding to the announcement that the implementation of 1,140 hours of free childcare could be delayed for a year, until August 2021, Scottish Greens Parliamentary Co-Leader Alison Johnstone MSP said:
“While it’s understandable that the coronavirus crisis has had an impact on the rollout of 1,140 hours of childcare, the news that its introduction could be delayed by a whole year will come as a blow to parents.
“Many families have planned their lives around the expectation that their child would be attending nursery from August, and the consequences of this now not happening will be stark.
“Different local authorities are facing different circumstances, with some ready to proceed with 1,140 immediately. The Scottish Government must ensure that all necessary support is provided to guarantee that parents in every part of the country can access this essential support as soon as possible.
“If the First Minister is serious about building the fairer, greener Scotland that the Scottish Government often talks of she must ensure that free childcare is available for every child in Scotland as soon as possible. Without it, many parents, particularly women and single parents, will continue to be excluded from the workforce.”