Scottish Greens launch childcare plans

The Scottish Greens have pledged what they describe as the biggest expansion of funded childcare in a generation as part of their campaign ahead of next month’s Holyrood election.

Speaking at the party’s spring conference in Glasgow, co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP said the Greens want to extend funded early learning and childcare to all children from the week after they turn two, regardless of where they live, and introduce 570 hours of funded care for under-twos by the end of the next parliament.

The policy, designed to ease costs for families and support women returning to work, would deliver places for an estimated 43,000 more children across Scotland, the party said. Mackay said high childcare costs are a barrier for many parents and called the expansion an investment in children and the workforce caring for them.

Party leaders also linked the childcare plan to broader manifesto priorities on the cost of living and equality, saying it would help tackle postcode-based disparities in access and strengthen early years support.

Co-leader Gillian Mackay MSP said:

Families are facing the difficult choice of cutting their working hours, or cutting back on essentials.

“We know that high quality, affordable childcare is one of the best ways we can tackle inequality, both for children and for women returning to the workplace.

“But cost is such a barrier, and families up and down the country are missing out.

“That’s why, at this election, the Scottish Greens are proposing the biggest expansion of funded childcare for a generation.

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