Early years apprenticeships set to soar

A record number of early years apprenticeships are set to start this year as part of the expansion of free nursery and childcare.

Education bosses are doubling funded childcare from 600 to 1,140 hours by 2020.

And the number of early learning and childcare modern apprenticeships has already increased by 22 per cent over the past five years.

It is expected to rise even further following a £1,000 increase in the contribution offered to employers.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “I want to give every child in Scotland the best start in life, regardless of their background, and our expansion of free early learning and childcare will do just that.

“As well as transforming the choices and chances of children, this policy will save families thousands of pounds in fees every year and further benefit the wider economy through the creation of thousands of new jobs.

“This government is investing an extra £54.3 million this year alone to expand and upskill the early learning and childcare workforce, including through increasing the number of apprenticeships and our national recruitment campaign.”

The number of Modern Apprenticeships in early learning and childcare increased in uptake by 22.7 per cent from 1,141 in 2012/13 to 1,400 in 2016/17.