Get more male childcare staff

RECRUITING more men and ethnic minority staff would help the childcare sector find the 11,000 new workers it needs to fulfil a Scottish Government pledge to double the hours of free care.

The amount of funded childcare for eligible two-year-olds as well as all three and four-year-olds will increase from 600 hours a year to 1,140 hours a year by 2020.

The sector will need take on up to 11,000 new workers.

A skills investment plan has been drawn up. Skills Development Scotland said: “Attracting people from a black and minority ethnic background, career changers, parents and returners to the sector also offer potential solutions.”