This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Dewar offers Scots parents solution to their childcare challenge
19/05/1998
Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar today outlined a new era of affordable, accessible and high quality childcare for Scottish parents.
Launching the Government's Green Paper, Meeting the Childcare Challenge: A Childcare Strategy for Scotland, Mr Dewar announced a £30 million package to deliver answers to parents on the three questions at the heart of Scotland's childcare challenge:
- will my child be supported?
- how will I afford it?
- and where do I find it?
Mr Dewar said:
"Our aim now is to offer parents in every neighbourhood in Scotland the choice of good, affordable childcare.
"Failure to support childcare has left Scottish families with high-cost, often low-quality care dotted unevenly around the country. The care, protection and development of tomorrow's generations of Scots is far too important for that. We will tackle this inequality of provision head on.
"Our strategy aims to:
- raise the quality of childcare by establishing common standards for childcare in all settings, by driving up standards of inspection and regulation to reassure parents, and by creating opportunities and training for the childcare workforce of the future;
- make childcare more affordable and available by investing a further £5 million to increase the number of childcare places through partnerships involving local authorities, employers, providers and parents adding to the £25 million already committed from the Lottery in a five-year drive to generate more availability ;
- and make childcare more accessible by improving information, including the introduction of telephone helplines in each of Scotland's local authority areas which will connect all parents to local childcare information services. By this winter every four year old that wants one will have access to a free part-time pre-school place.
"We need the best ideas to make our vision a reality. I will be appointing a Scottish Childcare Board including people from the public, private and voluntary sectors to bring sharp focus to our plans. And we will have a Childcare Summit next month to kick-start our partnership approach.
"We have, I believe, already taken one giant leap towards that goal. Our new 'childcare tax credit' will provide tax relief worth £30 million for Scottish families. That means assistance of up to £70 a week for a family with one child, and £105 a week for a family with two or more children.
"We will lead a drive to provide the best for all our children. It will require a partnership approach, and strong direction. That is why we must have a dedicated Minister within The Scottish Office to oversee this challenge. Sam Galbraith, as a father of three and our Minister for Children, will take that role.
Mr Galbraith said:
" In every local area we will set up a local childcare partnership to plan local childcare services bringing together parents, employers and all those with an interest in providing top quality care. These local partnerships will not only look after the pre-fives but also after school care. Currently only one in forty primary schools in Scotland have access to an out of school club. We are pledged to increase provision to ensure one in four primary schools have a club by the end of this Parliament.
"We are a Government with Scotland's future at the root of our policies. That is why we are looking to provide distinctive Scottish solutions to the questions which Scotland poses to us. Childcare which meets the needs of our children, and helps to develop them for the challenges which life will set them, is one such solution. Parent, provider or politician - it is a challenge for us all."
BACKGROUND
1. The following individuals have been invited and have accepted to join the Scottish Childcare Board:
Professor Norma Baldwin, Department of Social Work, University of Dundee
Ann Brady, Chief Executive,Highland Pre School Services
Dr Bronwen Cohen, Director, Children in Scotland
Paul Edwards, HR Consultant, Motorola
Linda Kinney, Head of Children's Services, Stirling Council
Patricia McGinty, Director, Scottish Independent Nurseries Association
Sally McNair, BBC Scotland
Anne McNellan, Scottish Childminding Association
Candy Munro, Acting Chief Executive, Gorbals Initiative
Bernadette Owens, Headteacher, Bellrock Day nursery, Cranhill
Councillor Paul Williamson, Edinburgh City Council
One further member with health expertise will be appointed as soon as possible. Two more positions will be advertised to identify individuals to provide a parental perspective.
News Release: 1022/98
19 May 1998