Question reference: S5W-07420
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 February 2017
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Current status: Answered by Mark McDonald on 8 March 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role voluntary playgroups will play in meeting its commitment to expand the early learning and childcare entitlement to 1,140 hours per year by 2020 and for this to apply to all three- and four-year-olds.
Answer
Playgroups are one of a range of settings which support the delivery of the current 600 hours provision and we expect will continue to do so in the expansion to 1140 hours. Local authorities can and do use playgroups as part of delivery of the entitled hours.
It is for local authorities to determine how the entitlement is delivered in their local area, and to agree arrangements with partner providers, including playgroups, if they so choose.
Our consultation on policy options to deliver our vision for early learning and childcare closed on 9th January, with a significant number of responses representing a diverse range of views, which we published on 6 February. We will set out our response in the Spring.