Labour: Child care numbers are plunging
THE number of child care providers in Scotland has plummeted to its lowest level in a decade under the SNP, say Labour.
Their figures claim the total, including childminders, has dropped by almost 1000 since 2008.
The Scottish Government say they have done more than any other devolved administration to expand free child care, but Scottish Labour’s analysis shows a decrease of 968 in providers including the loss of around 400 childminders in the last 18 months.
Education spokesman Daniel Johnson said: “Rather than a revolution, the SNP has delivered a regression in child care.
“A drop of 1000 childcare providers to the lowest number on record makes a mockery of their claims they will deliver for parents and families.
The SNP Government said free early learning and child care hours will be almost doubled to 1140 a year by 2020.
They added that since 2007, the Government have increased free child care from 12.5 hours a week to 16 for all three and four-year-olds.
Councils have been given £650million since 2014 to fund expansion to 600 hours a year.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “This Government has done more than any previous devolved administration to expand high-quality, free early learning and childcare provision.”