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Scotland: Nurseries and childminders face stagnant funding rates, FOI reveals

Nearly a fifth of councils in Scotland have no plans to increase funding rates when the 1,140 hours becomes statutory next month, an investigation by NDNA Scotland shows.
Responses to NDNA Scotland's FOI revealed nearly a fifth of councils will not be increasing funding rates for providers for the autumn term
Responses to NDNA Scotland's FOI revealed nearly a fifth of councils will not be increasing funding rates for providers for the autumn term

This is despite increased costs to keep settings Covid safe and rises in minimum wage, leaving many settings suffering real terms cuts.

Under the policy all staff in settings delivering the 1,140 hours must be paid the Living Wage, set at £9.50 per hour.

National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland put out the Freedom of Information (FOI) request to all Scottish local authorities, asking what they would be paying childcare providers to deliver the extended entitlement from August (autumn term).

It has raised concerns over the sustainability of settings in areas where funding rates will remain the same, or are only marginally increasing.

The move from 600 to 1,140 hours of funded childcare, for three- to- five-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds, was delayed by a year in Scotland due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Originally the policy, which entitles children taking up a place to a free meal, was due to be rolled out across the country by August 2020.

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