Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 24 April 2025
24 Apr 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Rural Early Learning and Childcare
Education and Skills
The last two private nurseries in the east neuk of Fife have closed, removing the flexible childcare that parents desperately need in order to stay in work. That is partly because of Government policy: the Government has been fiddling around for years, saying that it is going to take action to resolve the gap in funding, but it has done very little. When, at last, are we going to see a solution to this problem?
In the same item of business
2. Alexander Burnett (Aberdeenshire West) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring access to early learning and childcare for families in rural areas, in light of reports of recent nursery c...
The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise (Natalie Don-Innes)
SNP
Access to high-quality, accessible and affordable early learning and childcare is vital for our rural communities. That is why the Scottish Government funds ...
Alexander Burnett
Con
There are currently four nurseries being mothballed in Aberdeenshire, just as Tullynessle school was last year, even though it was expected to be full. Paren...
Natalie Don-Innes
SNP
The Scottish Government recognises the vital role that rural schools and nurseries play in sustaining local communities. I remind the member that responsibil...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
The last two private nurseries in the east neuk of Fife have closed, removing the flexible childcare that parents desperately need in order to stay in work. ...
Natalie Don-Innes
SNP
I assume that Mr Rennie is referring to the gap in funding in relation to the issues between the local authority and private nurseries. I have been clear to ...