Question reference: S5W-34923
- Asked by: Angus MacDonald, MSP for Falkirk East, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 3 February 2021
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Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 17 February 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the financial impact of the pandemic on private out-of-school care providers, and what plans it has to provide specific support to this sector.
Answer
The Scottish Government has worked closely with local authorities and sector representatives to assess and address the financial sustainability of the childcare sector through the Working Group on Early Learning and Childcare and Childcare Sector Recovery. We are working with the whole childcare sector to understand the challenges they face and to establish whether there are reasons why the financial support needs for Out of School Care providers may differ to those of the rest of the childcare sector.
We have made £22 million in dedicated support available to private and third sector day care of children settings, including private out of school care providers, since the start of the pandemic. During the current period of restrictions, £3.8 million has been made available for grants in each 4 week period, this will total £11.2 million between January-March. In view of the reopening of the early learning and childcare sector from the 22 February we are considering how best to utilise the one third of the fund identified for March to best support those in the sector in greatest need, in particular if restrictions continue for school age childcare settings.