Rona Mackay: Scotland’s new free childcare policy will save families £350/month

NEW assistance with childcare will help save working parents hundreds of pounds every month, MSP Rona Mackay has said.

Plans to push the manifesto commitment forward were announced at the SNP’s party conference in Glasgow on October 10 by leader Nicola Sturgeon.

The expansion of free childcare, which will start in 2020, will save working parents around £350 a month per child.

Ms Mackay said: “I am thrilled the First Minister used her speech at the SNP party conference to focus on the delivery of this radical free childcare policy.

“Free childcare has already been increased to 16 hours a week for all three and four year olds – up from 12.5 hours in 2007 – and extended to two year olds from low income households, saving families up to £2,500 per child per year.

“With what Nicola Sturgeon said at the conference, we’ll hit 30 hours a week, saving families hundreds of pounds a month per child.

“I am pleased we will remove barriers to private and third sector providers delivering funded Early Learning and Childcare, and ensure parents have genuine choice of provision across sectors.

“This means that parents can choose a nursery or childminder that best suits their needs and ask the local authority to fund it, so long as the provider meets the agreed standards.”

ENDS