Nursery World - Scottish childcare settings in nearly half of local authorities don't know their new funding rate

Nearly half of councils in Scotland have yet to make a decision on the hourly rates they will pay childcare providers from next week, reveals a FOI.

Nearly half of local authorities in Scotland have yet to decide on their funding rate for partnership nurseries from next week PHOTO Adobe Stock

The findings come from National Day Nurseries Scotland, which put out a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to all Scottish local authorities.

It said that with so many local authorities yet to decide on their funding rates, it makes it impossible for childcare settings to plan ahead.

Within their response, 15 local authorities revealed that they still don't know what rate they will pay early learning and childcare (ELC) providers in their area to deliver funded places from the new academic year, which starts next week.

Just one in five councils have plans to increase funding rates, however of these, only two – Angus and Stirling – plan for rates to keep pace with current inflation.

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