Healthy meals for kids
Children attending early learning and childcare sessions will receive a free healthy meal as part of a new Scottish Government scheme.
Funding Follows the Child has been developed in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and is set to be introduced in August, 2020.
The scheme will also enable childcare providers to pay those delivering the sessions the Living Wage, currently £9 an hour, and allows parents to choose how they access their funded hours of childcare.
Funded childcare is also expected to be doubled, from the current 600 hours to 1,140 hours by 2020.
This will be underpinned by an additional £500 million in the next Scottish Government budget.
Funding Follows The Child also aims to provide all children with the opportunity of outdoor play sessions.
SNP MSP for Stirling Bruce Crawford said: “Early years are a crucial part of a child’s development, which is why ensuring that a healthy and balanced diet is so important – particularly at this age. I want to make sure that every child in my constituency gets the best possible start in life, which is why I am delighted that the Scottish Government is putting its money where its mouth is on early learning and childcare.
He added: “As well as doubling free childcare, the SNP Government has introduced the Baby Box to help families, has begun making Best Start Grants to lower income families during a child’s early years, and is funding measures to close the attainment gap in our schools.”
The scheme will coincide with the launch of a ‘National Standard,’ which all funded ELC providers in Scotland will be expected to meet.
Speaking at the launch of the ELC National Standard in Fife, Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd said: “This is a unique opportunity to transform the way we deliver early learning and childcare, which is why we are using the National Standard to ensure no child in ELC goes hungry or misses out on the benefits of outdoor learning, exercise and play.”
Councillor Stephen McCabe, Children and Young People Spokesperson for COSLA, said: “The National Standard underpins the commitment to nearly double the funded entitlement of Early Learning and Childcare to 1,140 hours per year for three and fouryear olds, and eligible two-year olds. It is intended to ensure that from August 2020 children will receive a high-quality, accessible service aimed at improving outcomes and tackling the povertyrelated attainment gap.”
Mid Scotland and Fife Tory MSP Dean Lockhart commented: “I welcome the national standard and the adoption of the Scottish Conservatives’ provider neutral principle.
However, the roll-out of the policy is in trouble with the goalposts constantly shifting and the policy needs better governance.
“Questions also need to be asked about the way in which private providers, which are often small or even micro-businesses fit into this new national standard.”