FOI/202300355502 · FOI · unclear
Proposed changes to free childcare: FOI release
Information requested
A detail of Scottish Government plans to match or introduce any equivalent policy in light of the UK Government introducing the expansion of free childcare for children above the age of 2 years old from April 2024. Could you also confirm the current and any proposed free childcare policy for children aged 0-3.
Response
Scotland already has the most generous childcare offer anywhere in the UK. We offer 1140 hours of high quality funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) to all 3 and 4-year-olds and eligible two-yearolds, regardless of the working status of their parents.
Our published Strategic Childcare Plan explains our current childcare offer and how we will start to build a system of school age childcare and develop an early learning and childcare offer for one and two year olds, starting with those who need it most.
New Leadership: A Fresh Start (Supporting documents - Equality, opportunity, community: New leadership - A fresh start - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) also sets out our ambition to develop a funded early learning and childcare offer for 1 and 2 year olds, focusing on those who need it most.
We are currently mapping existing provision for 1 and 2 year olds in Scotland as well as building the evidence base for the policy. The needs or those younger children are not identical to those of 3 and 4 year olds, so we are also ensuring that lived experience of parents and the sector forms a core part of the policy development. In this way we aim to develop a considered policy that meets the diverse needs of Scottish families.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact Please quote the FOI reference Central Enquiry Unit Email: ceu@gov.scot Phone: 0300 244 4000 The Scottish Government St Andrews House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG
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