More families will benefit from funded school age childcar e as part of a national mission to tackle child poverty. The Scottish Government is investing £1 million to expand services in parts of Dundee, Glasgow, Clackmannanshire and Inverclyde, with a roll-out of similar provision in other parts of Scotland from April 2023.
Eligible low income families in the four targeted areas will be helped with the cost of childcare for primary school aged children with families in most need paying nothing.
The six priority family types as identified in the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan are: lone parent families, minority ethnic families, families with a disabled adult or child, families with a younger mother (under 25), families with a child under one, and larger families (three or more children).
Children’s Minister Clare Haughey, recently visited the Linlathen area of Dundee to speak to families accessing school age childcare. She said: "Delivering our vision of a high-quality, affordable and accessible system of childcare is crucial to our national mission to tackle child poverty. It can help parents and carers to access work, training or study, while children benefit from additional opportunities to socialise and take part in a range of activities.
"There is no one-size-fits-all approach to delivering school age childcare - what we learn from the four areas that will see services expanded will help us understand what is needed to support families in different communities.”
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Dundee City Council family support worker Doug Millar said: “The Linlathen project will go a long way to help remove barriers to childcare for people in this area.
“Parents will be able to access employment opportunities while their children are enjoying activities delivered in a safe and nurturing environment.”
The Scottish Government also confirmed that it will continue the Nursery Rates Relief Scheme, providing 100% relief on non-domestic rates to eligible day nurseries beyond the current end date of June 30, 2023.
The commitment is contained in the new Strategic Early Learning and School Age Childcare Plan 2022-26. This focuses on building a national system of school age childcare and a new early learning and childcare (ELC) offer for one and two-year-olds. This will build on the success of the existing 1,140 hours of funded ELC offer for all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds.
Early Years Scotland Chief Executive Jane Brumpton said: “We welcome the extension of the nursery rates relief scheme which will support the sector during these challenging times ahead.
“We will look forward to working in partnership with the Scottish Government and the ELC sector to implement the priorities within this plan and support innovative solutions that focus on the needs of children and families and support the early years sector to thrive and flourish.”
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The £1 million investment in school age childcare will be distributed to local authorities in the four targeted areas, with the services delivered by regulated childcare services and activity-based providers.
Since August 2021, all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds have been able to access 1,140 hours a year of funded early learning and childcare.
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FAQs
In December, the Scottish government announced their Budget for 2024-25. This further raised tax rates on high earners relative to the rest of the UK, but implies real-terms cuts in public service spending compared to the latest plans for the current financial year.
How much money does the government give to Scotland? ›
Importantly, the Scottish Government receive a record block of £41 billion, and record Barnett consequentials on top of that. Spending in Scotland is 25% higher per person than the UK average, so that equates to an extra £8.5 billion.
Are people in Scotland getting the cost of living payment? ›
Cost of Living Payments 2024
You could get a payment if you're on a low income, get taxi credits or disability benefits or if you're a a pensioner.
What is considered low income in Scotland? ›
A household is considered to be in poverty if their income is less than 60% of the average income for that household type. A more detailed explanation can be obtained on the Scottish Government poverty statistics website. We are using statistics for poverty after housing costs unless otherwise stated.
Has the Scottish Government borrowed money? ›
Scotland Office Minister John Lamont secured the approval of a Scotland Act Order that increases the Scottish Government's resource borrowing limit from £1.75 billion to £1.78 billion and the capital borrowing limit from £3 billion to £3.05 billion in 2024-25, enabling them to invest further in schools, hospitals, ...
Where does the Scottish Government get its money from? ›
How the Scottish Budget is funded. The Scottish Budget is funded mainly through annual funding from the UK Government, known as the Scottish block grant, and devolved tax revenues. The block grant is calculated with reference to changes in spending on equivalent public services in England.
Who is richer, Scotland or England? ›
Scotland is richer, per capita, than the UK, a fact the independence campaigners love to champion. Its access to oil pushes its GDP per person to 115% of the UK's, according to the Scottish government, making it the world's 14th richest country. The UK ranks at number 18.
Does Scotland pay more tax than England? ›
If you have earned income of more than around £28,867, you will probably pay more income tax than you would if you lived in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
How much money does Westminster give to Scotland? ›
Block Grant funding for the Scottish Government is the highest since devolution began at around £41 billion a year for 2022-2025. This means that for every £100 per person the UK Government spends in England on matters devolved to Scotland, the Scottish Government will receive around £126 per person in Scotland.
Is living in Scotland cheaper than the US? ›
If we're talking about the average cost of living, it is generally cheaper to reside in Scotland rather than the U.S, as Scotland is 1.6 times more expensive than the U.S.
According to our reports, a monthly salary of £2,500 allows for a comfortable lifestyle in Scotland, covering expenses such as amenities, food, and rent.
What do over 60s get free in Scotland? ›
If you are aged 60 or over, you are entitled to free bus travel across Scotland and reduced fares on coaches, trains and the Subway in the Strathclyde area. Your National Entitlement Card (NEC) works as your bus pass or for getting concessions on travel in Strathclyde.
Is poverty a problem in Scotland? ›
Over one million people still live in poverty in Scotland, with nearly half of those (490,000) living in very deep poverty.
What is the average wage in Scotland? ›
When looking at pay for all employees: At £26,007, Scotland has the third highest median gross annual salary of the nations and regions of the UK and it is higher than the UK figure. At £504, Scotland has the third highest median gross weekly pay of the nations and regions of the UK and it is the same as the UK figure.
What benefits can I claim on a low income Scotland? ›
Help on a low income
- Universal credit.
- Housing Benefit.
- Working and child tax credits.
- Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Pension Credit.
- Income Support.
The creation of a new tax band (increasing Scotland's total to six bands compared with three in the rest of the UK), fiscal drag and better than expected income tax revenues have boosted the Scottish budget. In 2024-25, the income tax net position is expected to be £1.4 billion.
How much more tax will I pay in Scotland in 2024? ›
Scottish Income Tax 2024/25
| Taxable income | Band | Tax rate |
|---|
| Over £14,877 to £26,561 | Scottish basic rate | 20% |
| Over £26,562 to £43,662 | Intermediate rate | 21% |
| Over £43,663 to £75,000 | Higher rate | 42% |
| Over £75,001 to £125,140 | Advanced rate | 45% |
2 more rowsApr 6, 2024
Previous increases to Scottish Child Payment to £20 and £25 were in excess of inflation and in April 2024 it will be increased by a further 6.7% to £26.70, in line with the September 2023 CPI.
What is the spring budget for the Scottish Government in 2024? ›
The spring Budget represented a significant milestone in the UK Government's levelling-up mission, with investment into Scotland bursting through the £3 billion mark. In addition, the Scottish Government will benefit from a £295 million funding uplift through the Barnett formula for 2024-25.
