Rise in pre-school hours for Scottish children

Ministers plan to introduce the increase from 475 hours to 600 from 2014.

Measures in the Bill also include:

Aileen Campbell, the minister for children and young people, also announced an extra £10m on top of the £20m Third Sector Early Intervention fund. This will be shared between 45 organisations working closely with children, young people and families, as part of the wider investment in prevention and early intervention. This increases the total budget for the fund to £30million over two years, an increase on the funding available over the previous two years.

Ms Campbell said, ‘There is excellent work being done across Scotland to support parents, carers, children and young people. This Bill will improve levels of care and support to children and families across the country through an increase in free and more flexible early learning and childcare from 475 to 600 hours, as well as more joined up services to support the wellbeing of all children and young people through a named person. Further measures will also add stability to kinship care arrangements. The level of investment the Scottish Government is putting into ensuring the Bill works for Scotland’s young people also demonstrates out commitment in our children from the very start.