Under consideration PE2111: Fund early learning and childcare from 9 months

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to provide families with financial support for early learning and childcare when their children reach 9 months old.

In England, funding has become available for working families with children aged from 9 months old. Scotland, has no funding available for working families until their child turns 3 years old.

Such funding being available in Scotland, would enable many families to get back into employment and improve their personal circumstances.

Background information

Maternity pay ends after 9 months, which is when many women return to work. Many families need to pay for early learning/childcare for over 2 years and this is simply not an option for many others.

This cost often leaves many women having to give up work, and that leads to many families struggling to survive with mounting debt, stress and crossing over the poverty line.

We are asking the Scottish Government to implement funding for working families when their children reach 9 months of age, enabling more people to get back into work and have a better quality of life.

The SNP website has an extremely vague description of their plans for extending funding, but there are no dates or details on what their plans are.

In England, funding has become available for working families with children aged from 9 months old. We are asking them to take swift, decisive action and to implement the same policy.

https://www.snp.org/policies/pb-what-is-the-snp-doing-to-improve-childcare-and-early-years-education/

  • Created by Julie Fraser
  • Considered from 2 July 2024
  • Petitions can collect signatures until the petition has been closed

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