2 in 3 councils fail to deliver on childcare

ONLY eleven of Scotland’s 32 councils have met a pledge for free early years childcare, MSPs have been told.

The Scottish Government’s plans to offer 1,140 hours of free childcare each year were due to be delivered by August but have been delayed due to coronavirus. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she is ‘deeply sorry’ the plans are on hold.

The public audit committee quizzed the Scottish Government and officials from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on Thursday.

Alison Cumming, the Government’s interim director for early learning and childcare, said only 11 councils had so far met the childcare pledge.