Sturgeon’s apology over NLC’s early years
Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has admitted misleading Parliament about North Lanarkshire Council’s 1140 hours early years education programme.
During First Minister’s Questions, Ms Sturgeon claimed NLC had failed to roll out the programme, when in fact 69 per cent of education and childcare establishments are offering the extended hours.
The council’s education convener, Councillor Frank McNally, said: “The First Minister’s comments made in Holyrood were entirely false and rightly led to a point of order being raised by Richard Leonard MSP.
“North Lanarkshire Council is committed to the full rollout of 1140 funded hours by the end of September.
“At the time of the remarks, 69 per cent of early learning and childcare establishments in North Lanarkshire were already delivering the provision.
“When the SNP Government took the decision to remove the statutory obligation on council’s delivering the programme, North Lanarkshire was quick to announce its plans to continue regardless, doing so on Friday, June 26.
“At that time North Lanarkshire was the largest council in Scotland to make such a pledge.
“In addition, North Lanarkshire was one of the first councils to switch on private, voluntary and independent (PVI) provider funding at 1140 hours, sustaining the rate in full over the lockdown period.
“It is deeply disappointing that the First Minister has made such comments given the frequent communication between our council and the government.
“It undermines efforts to ensure strong partnership working in the delivery of this flagship programme.
“North Lanarkshire Council Early Learning and Childcare staff, both centrally and in establishments, have been working incredibly hard to deliver 1140 funded hours.
“They have done so during a period of extraordinary turmoil and uncertainty as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“They deserve better than inaccurate statements being made in parliament, before legislators and a wide television and online audience, especially from the First Minister of Scotland.”
In a letter to Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, Ms Sturgeon said she had made an “error”.
She added: “This position is more positive than the one I narrated to Parliament and reveals that the Scottish Government, in partnership with local authorities, has achieved even more than | believed to be the case.
“I also want to take the time to recognise the huge amount of work that has gone into supporting children and families over this difficult time and I would like to extend my thanks to North Lanarkshire’s Early Years team.
“I very much appreciate how challenging it was been for everyone involved in ELC to reach this level of delivery.”