Rennie attacks SNP failure to support private and voluntary run nurseries

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie has today attacked the SNP’s handling of the childcare sector and accused Humza Yousaf of abandoning leadership contest pledges.

At an SNP leadership husting in March 2023, Humza Yousaf acknowledged the funding disparity between council-run, and private and third sector nurseries. He pledged to introduce fair funding in his first budget. However in a letter to the Scottish Parliament’s education committee on Wednesday, Scottish Government childcare minister Natalie Don failed to deliver on these fair funding pledges.

Mr Rennie has repeatedly raised concerns over PVI nurseries in Fife facing a staffing crisis, as operators lose staff to council-run nurseries which are funded at a higher rate by the government.

Figures published in August 2023 revealed that 346 private and third sector childcare services have cancelled their registrations with the Care Inspectorate since 2021, with a net loss of 106.

Mr Rennie said:

“Humza Yousaf promised to close the funding gap between council nurseries and those in the private, voluntary and independent sector but now his government are refusing to do so.

“PVI nurseries are simply not being given the funding they need and are finding it increasingly difficult to hire staff, with a subsequent loss of capacity and flexible childcare.

“No one will trust a First Minister who always goes back on his word sooner or later.

“Nurseries are essential to ensuring that children get the best start in life, and helping parents return to work. The expansion of childcare hours was a welcome step but parents need choice about when and where to access childcare. Parents need the flexibility which private and voluntary nurseries provide, but the government is jeopardising that choice.

“Humza Yousaf needs to recommit to fixing this problem and bringing forward a fair funding formula.”