Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:00 pm on 19 September 2024.
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports wraparound care for school-age children in the Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn constituency. (S6O-03740)
The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise (Natalie Don-Innes):
Glasgow is one of our childcare early adopter community areas that are being supported by £16 million of investment over the next two years, as set out in the programme for government. That includes work in the Canal ward, in Mr Doris’s constituency, on expanding access to affordable school-age childcare services for targeted families who are most at risk of living in poverty. We are also funding activity services in the area through our extra time programme with the Scottish Football Association, as well as supporting Stepping Stones for Families to deliver affordable school-age childcare and wider family support services in Possilpark.
I commend that investment. I am fortunate, in that my son benefits from an excellent breakfast club from 8 am and after-school provision until 6 pm when required, both of which are provided by Summerston Childcare. However, how is the Scottish Government addressing unmet need and demand for such services, not only in Maryhill but right across the country? Importantly, how is it mapping progress in addressing those gaps when they are identified?
Natalie Don-Innes:
There are a number of work streams in relation to that. At a local level, all local authorities have a statutory duty under the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 to consult with parents about their school-age childcare needs every two years, and to prepare and publish plans for the provision of appropriate care. In addition, through those six childcare early adopter communities, we are co-designing local childcare systems to meet parents’ and carers’ needs, understanding that that will look different in each community.
At a national level, the Scottish Government has been working with the Improvement Service and Assist FM to map breakfast and after-school club provision across all 32 local authorities and to identify any gaps in that provision. We will continue to work with our partners across local government to understand what it takes to expand access to year-round school-age childcare, building on the provision that is already in place and respecting local flexibilities.
That concludes portfolio questions on education and skills. There will be a brief pause before we move on to the next item of business, to allow front-bench teams to change positions.