Current status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 22 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that the funding rates set for the delivery of funded early learning and childcare are sustainable for providers across all local authorities, including in rural and island communities.
Local authorities are responsible for setting sustainable rates that reflect the costs of delivering funded early learning and childcare (ELC), in line with guidance published annually by the Scottish Government and COSLA. Guidance for 2026-27 will be published by the end of March. We will also publish findings from an independent national survey of funded ELC providers’ costs undertaken by the Diffley Partnership, intended to improve the evidence base available to inform rate-setting processes.
In addition, the draft 2026-27 Budget confirmed that we will provide a further £11 million each year to support local authorities to set sustainable rates that enable staff delivering ELC in private and third sector services to continue to be paid at least the real Living Wage.