SNP’S flagship childcare plans set to ‘implode’ say nurseries
●Childcare providers warn government policy will leave them fighting for survival
Flagship plans to provide a system of effective universal childcare in Scotland may be about to “implode”, private nurseries have warned ministers.
Childcare providers have written to the Scottish Government setting out widespread concerns that an expansion to 1,140 hours, which would mirror the primary school week, is not being properly funded and will drive agencies out of business.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has hailed the scheme for three and fouryear-olds, as well as some two-yearolds, as “transformative”, with hopes it would allow a generation of mothers to return to the workplace. But more than 90 pages of documents have been obtained by the Scottish Conservatives through Freedom of Information warning of a looming crisis.
Private nurseries are widely viewed as key partners in the delivery of the
new policy, but say they now face a “fight for survival”. This includes fears the expansion plan is not being properly funded and will drive them out of business.
Former health secretary Alex Neil has raised concerns on behalf of nurseries in his constituency, as has his fellow SNP MSP Kate Forbes.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said many private nurseries were facing a loss of £1,188 per child because of funding shortfalls.
“Now they also have to battle against a public sector capital funding programme taking place in many local authorities,” Ms Tanuku said.
“We are having meetings with senior civil servants about sustainability of our nurseries ... it’s crucial that all local authorities work with private providers on an equal footing for this policy to be successful.”
It remains unclear exactly how the scheme would operate, but ministers have said there will be a “funding follows the child” model, meaning private and third sector nurseries have more opportunities to offer their services as part of the expansion.
But one provider wrote: “Unless the government steps in and sorts this out very quickly, then the whole project of 1,140hrs is going to collapse.”
Another provider said: “If this plan goes ahead, there will be services who will definitely not survive 2018, never mind 2020. We are now fighting for survival.”
A briefing by Scottish Govscotland’s
ernment civil servants also highlighted private provider concerns including lower rates paid to partner providers, a lack of engagement and a lack of access to capital funding.
The briefing said “in some cases the approach taken to phasing by the local authority negatively impacts on the sustainability of some providers”.
Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire and South Ayrshire are the areas where issues were being raised most often, according to the documents released by the Tories.
Tory children’s spokeswoman Alison Harris said: “This childcare expansion was launched to huge fanfare, but it is clearer by the day that the SNP has no ability to deliver it.”
The Scottish Government has already agreed to provide an extra £150 million to fund the scheme after councils warned the initial £840m cost set out by ministers was short.
Auditor General has previously raised concerns over delivery of the flagship scheme.
Children and young people minister Maree Todd said: “We expect local authorities and early learning and childcare providers to work together meaningfully to deliver the funded entitlement.”
She added: “The landmark funding agreement for the expansion reached by Scottish Government and Cosla in April to fully fund this policy includes funding for the payment of sustainable rates to providers from 2020. This means that the hourly rates paid to providers across the country will significantly increase.”