Question reference: S6W-10941
- Asked by: Meghan Gallacher, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 8 September 2022
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Current status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 22 September 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timeline regarding the proposed change that will enable parents to access automatic deferral funding for early learning and childcare for four-year-olds.
Answer
The expansion of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) for deferrals is a legislative commitment. From 1 August 2023, if a parent or carer of a child that is still 4 years old on the date they are eligible to start school defers their entry to school for a year, they can automatically access an additional year of funded early learning and childcare. Details are available on the Scottish Government website: Deferred school entry and eligibility from 1 August 2023 - Early learning and childcare: statutory guidance - July 2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .