Rennie: Yousaf backsliding on nursery funding commitment

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP has today accused First Minister Humza Yousaf of ‘backsliding’ on the ‘absolute commitment’ he gave during the SNP leadership race on fair funding for private and voluntary nurseries. Mr Rennie warned that many staff are leaving the sector because of the current inequality in funding.

At an SNP leadership hustings in March, Humza Yousaf said that “we have to have an equitable funding formula” for private and voluntary nurseries. He added that he would bring in a fair formula in his first budget and committed to “personally” taking part in intensive discussions with the sector.

Today at First Minister’s Questions, Willie Rennie challenged him to keep the promise that he had made. Humza Yousaf claimed that he “did promise to of course look at the issue”. He did not commit to bringing in a fair funding formula.

Mr Rennie said:

“The First Minister knows that many experienced staff are departing the private and voluntary nursery sector because those nurseries receive lower fees than council-run nurseries. He admitted that there is a problem and promised to fix it in his first budget. But today Humza Yousaf is clearly backsliding on his commitment.

“The expansion of childcare hours was a welcome step but parents need choice about when and where to access childcare. That flexibility is at risk under the current funding which means that private nurseries can’t get the staff they need.

“Humza Yousaf needs to stop dodging and get on with closing the funding gap. Ministers must increase the rates that are paid to private and third sector childcare providers to match those in council settings.”