Following talks with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), the Scottish Government has agreed to invest by 2021-22 an exta £567 million per year in the offer, bringing the total annual spend to around £900 million.
The expansion of Scotland's funded early learning and childcare from 600 to 1,140 hours a year for all three- and four-year-olds will come into force by 2020.
The Scottish Government will also provide councils with £476 million in capital funding over four years to support associated building projects.
The announcement comes after a report by Audit Scotland found a ‘considerable gap’ between what local councils and the Scottish Government believe the expansion of funded early learning and childcare will cost. Councils estimate the cost of the 1,140 hours at nearly £1 billion per year.
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