Natalie Don-Innes
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Marie McNair: I am proud of the policies that the Scottish National Party Government has introduced, which make childcare more accessible. We know that wraparound childcare is essential to ensuring that parents can find and retain employment, and that the impact of that policy is keeping children out of poverty.”
“Families in Clydebank and Milngavie, like those throughout Scotland, benefit from our investment of £1 billion annually in the provision of 1,140 hours of high- quality early learning and childcare.”
“I have welcomed the opportunity to visit a wide range of settings during my time in office, seeing our support and funding in action and witnessing the passion, dedication and skill of our childcare professionals, who seek every day to get it right for every child.”
“That work will be developed with adoptive families and delivery partners to ensure that it reflects lived experience and supports a consistent national approach.”
“Although we have invested heavily in CAMHS, there might be more to do to ensure that children and young people get the support that they need. I have acknowledged the challenges that adoptive families face, the need to strengthen support and the dedication of the practitioners who support those families.”
“I will respond to a number of points that were raised in today’s debate, but, given that this is my final speech, I will take a minute to thank the people of the constituency that I represent— Renfrewshire North and West.”
The complete record
Every one of 337 lines we hold for Natalie Don-Innes, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 7.
“I have heard a fair amount of concern about the provisions, but we need to be clear about why we are doing this: there should be no profiteering from the care of children. It is very important that we understand levels of reinvestment and where profit is being spent appropriately. That is exactly why we are taking steps to understand the picture more clearly, with the aim of limiting excessive profits. Martin Whitfield: I welcome the minister’s considered approach in that answer. She is right, because, as the Promise stated, “There is no place for profiting in how Scotland cares for its children.” We have known for years that chief executives’ bonuses are being paid for with public money that is meant to support our most vulnerable children.”
“Martin Whitfield: It was revealed last year that local authorities gave £200 million to private companies between 2020 and 2023 to provide residential care for children and young people. That money was being used to pay for senior executives’ earnings of more than £750,000 a year—public money has been used to pay for those earnings. Was that an appropriate use of taxpayers’ money? What action will the minister commit to today to address the matter? Natalie Don-Innes: Some of the figures that have been highlighted are shocking, but we will need to look into them further. Mr Whitfield’s question and the Common Weal report are very important in highlighting the concerns that have led to the provisions in the bill.”
“There is no place for profiting in how Scotland cares for its children, which is why we are legislating to limit the ability to generate and retain profit from providing residential care. The provisions in the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill strike a balance between reducing excessive profit in residential childcare and ensuring that vital services for children are maintained. If the bill is passed by Parliament, it will accelerate progress towards ensuring that all children and young people receive the compassionate and considerate care that they need throughout their care journey, so that they grow up loved, safe and respected.”
“We are not closed off to holding a grooming gangs inquiry; I have said that we want to ensure that that is where resources need to be diverted. I am confident that we need to build a clearer picture in Scotland of the nature of such group- based activity. I met with Police Scotland representatives just last night, alongside the First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, to receive a progress update on the on-going work. I am confident that we are building that picture, both with the work that Police Scotland is undertaking and the further work that has just been agreed today by the national group. I think that that speaks to exactly what Meghan Gallacher is calling for in ensuring that we have a clear picture of the scale of such activity in Scotland.”
“It is impossible, therefore, for anyone in the Scottish Government to argue that Scotland is immune, given the large scale of what has happened down south. So far, the Scottish Government has rejected calls from victims to hold an inquiry here, but the NSPCC has been clear that Scotland still lacks a clear understanding of the scale and nature of child abuse. Victims deserve better than that, so will the minister take this opportunity to finally agree to our calls for a grooming gangs inquiry to be established in Scotland so that we can uncover the true scale of child abuse that has occurred across the country and provide victims with justice and closure? Natalie Don-Innes: I think that I have been very clear in my responses to Meghan Gallacher.”
“As I said, I have been very clear that we are not closed off to the holding of an inquiry, but we want to ensure that we put in resources in an appropriate way that is inclusive of the on-going work by Police Scotland and the national group to inform that. Meghan Gallacher: The minister talks about resources, but the report that the Scottish Government has issued does not mention grooming gangs once. The Government does not know what it is doing. The minister will be aware of the inquiry that is taking place in England. The sheer scale of offending that has been uncovered has led to the collapse of the grooming gangs inquiry there. The task force made more than 1,000 arrests in its first year, and survivors have said that they were taken across the border to be exploited right here in Scotland.”
“That is more evidence that the national structures that the minister points to are focused on general practice, not on identifying or analysing organised group-based exploitation. Given that that detailed report has overlooked the issue of grooming gangs entirely, does the minister still believe that the Scottish Government is truly committed to confronting the issue? Natalie Don-Innes: I have been very clear that—as I outlined in my first response—we are prepared to give an inquiry every consideration, but surely members want to ensure that we are diverting resources in the most appropriate way by strengthening our response to this abhorrent crime and supporting any victims.”
“The work of the strategic group, as well as the on-going work by Police Scotland, will help to inform our thinking. Meghan Gallacher: We have a minister appearing online, but here in the chamber is a cabinet secretary who has previously answered questions on grooming gangs. I am a little confused as to what the process is and who is leading on what. The NSPCC is the leading Scottish child protection charity, and it sits on the Scottish Government’s national child sexual abuse and exploitation strategic group. Its intervention is unprecedented. The national child sexual abuse and exploitation sub-group produced a 27-page deep dive on child sexual abuse, yet there was not one mention of grooming gangs—not one single reference.”
“Child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation are abhorrent crimes with devastating impacts on victims and their families, which is why the protection of children is an absolute priority for the Scottish Government. It is why we established the national child sexual abuse and exploitation strategic group, of which the NSPCC is a valued member. At a meeting today, the strategic group agreed next steps in its programme of work to improve our response to child sexual abuse, which includes on-going actions on workforce, data and consideration of mandatory reporting. As has been set out to the Parliament on several occasions, the Scottish Government will give every consideration to holding an inquiry if we feel that it is necessary.”
“Mr Kerr is not setting out properly the effect of the amendment that he lodged to the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. All that the amendment would have required was that the victims and witnesses commissioner, who has not yet been appointed, undertake a report to consider whether any further action was required in that respect. That is not something that could happen today. The commissioner would have to first be appointed and consider whether it was appropriate to take any action. Essentially, it is distortion to say that a grooming gangs inquiry proposal was in front of the Parliament and was not supported. Liam Kerr: That is more sophistry from the minister, first on the correction and then on what actually happened during the passage of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. [Interruption.]”
“When the Parliament was asked to vote on my amendment, which would have ultimately led to a Scottish grooming gangs inquiry, had it been agreed to, members of the Scottish Parliament voted, in part, on the basis of information that was put before them by the cabinet secretary that was false. Does the minister concede that those MSPs who voted against my amendment might have voted in favour but for the false information? How does the Government propose to give the Parliament another chance to vote for a Scottish grooming gangs inquiry, but one that would, this time, be based on accurate information? Natalie Don-Innes: I should just set out that Ms Constance would have answered the question, but she is currently travelling on Scottish Government business.”
“It was minuted at the strategic group’s meeting in October that the Professor Jay quote was correct but that it was from January and not made in relation to the amendment or the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill. Ms Constance did not state that Professor Jay was speaking directly about the amendment. She made a general point on Professor Jay’s views on calls for inquiries and that she, too, wanted to get on with the work that is needed to protect our children. Liam Kerr: I thank the minister for that response, but I am surprised that the justice secretary is not here answering for her misrepresentation. Perhaps the minister will set out why in her response.”
“In stage 3 of the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, replying to Mr Kerr’s proposed amendment that the new post of victims and witnesses commissioner for Scotland should carry out research into child sexual abuse, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs raised awareness of the work led by Professor Alexis Jay, who now sits on our national child sexual abuse and exploitation strategic group. Ms Constance noted specifically that Professor Jay had been the chair of an independent inquiry into child sexual abuse in England and Wales and that Professor Jay had put on record in the past that, in regard to child sexual abuse and exploitation, “people should just get on with it”.”
“Natalie Don-Innes: It is, of course, disappointing and concerning to hear the families’ concerns. As I have said, we have been engaging with the local authority on the matter and have provided funding to support the school estate in the area. Obviously, I am answering questions on behalf of the cabinet secretary today and I am more than happy to share the member’s concerns and the request for a meeting with her.”
“Young families have moved in under the impression that that extra capacity would follow, but we are now at the end of 2025 and there is still no new school provision, with Smithycroft secondary school now being at full capacity and the plan to install modular accommodation being wholly unsuitable. I have spoken to dozens of parents who are now looking to move elsewhere. Robroyston is right at the limit of the catchment area, and the walking route that Glasgow City Council suggests children take from Robroyston to Smithycroft is through an unlit graveyard, which is clearly an unsafe route. Will the minister join me and families from Robroyston to walk the route to Smithycroft secondary school to see the conditions and hear the families’ concerns for herself?”
“Although it is the statutory duty of local authorities to manage their school estate, Scottish Government officials have been engaging with Glasgow City Council on this matter. It is also worth noting that, through the £2 billion learning estate investment programme, the Scottish Government continues to provide substantial support to the council for its school estate, including funding for a new Gaelic primary school and Linburn academy. Paul Sweeney: In 2009, Glasgow City Council identified Robroyston as a community growth area and approved massive family-oriented housing developments, under the condition that extended primary and secondary school capacity would follow. That was to be funded through the community growth fund.”
“It is clear that that funding is having a hugely positive impact, which is why the cabinet secretary has been very clear in saying that it will continue to be provided through 2026-27, to provide certainty to schools and local authorities. School Provision (Robroyston) 7.”
“Falkirk Council has recorded a further narrowing of its numeracy attainment gap due to actions that have been taken by schools and education teams through the support of strategic equity funding. Given the importance of that funding, what impact data is being gathered in order to guide future decisions on the use of SEF? Natalie Don-Innes: With the support of pupil equity funding and strategic equity funding, the poverty-related gap in positive initial destinations for school leavers reduced by two thirds between 2009-10 and 2024. The poverty-related attainment gap at national 5, higher and advanced higher levels narrowed in this year’s results, and the poverty-related attainment gap in primary school literacy is at a record low.”
“Over the past decade, through the Scottish attainment challenge, £1.75 billion has been invested in closing the poverty-related attainment gap in literacy and numeracy. We are seeing an impact, as the literacy attainment gap in primary, and the literacy and numeracy gaps at level 3 in secondary, are the narrowest that they have ever been. We are determined to make further progress. As well as providing the attainment challenge funding, we continue to fund our read, write, count with the First Minister and reading schools programmes, as well as the school library improvement fund. Michael Matheson: The minister will recognise that pupil equity funding and strategic equity funding are central to helping to support schools and local authorities to tackle the child poverty- related attainment gap.”
“Will the minister request that the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills meet me and the Clydebank Asbestos Group to discuss how we can take forward such a policy in Scotland? Natalie Don-Innes: We absolutely recognise the concerns about asbestos in schools and other public buildings. Since this Administration came to power, more than 1,150 school infrastructure projects have been completed, and significant investment by local authorities and the Scottish Government has helped to reduce the amount of asbestos in the school estate. However, as I mentioned in my original answer, local authorities hold the statutory responsibility for managing and controlling asbestos in their schools. For that reason, I encourage Marie McNair and the Clydebank Asbestos Group to raise the matter directly with the local council.”
“Local authorities hold the statutory responsibility for managing and controlling asbestos in their schools. However, the Scottish Government continues to closely engage with COSLA, local authorities and the Health and Safety Executive on the issue. Furthermore, the cabinet secretary met NASUWT representatives last year to discuss asbestos in schools. It is important to note that health and safety is not a devolved matter, and that the HSE holds United Kingdom-wide responsibility for enforcing the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Marie McNair: The potential for exposure to asbestos in situ can be avoided by its removal. The Educational Institute of Scotland, other trade unions and many campaigners support the phased removal of asbestos from schools and other public buildings.”
“We understand how important it is for children to have those opportunities, given what they mean for both safety and future life opportunities. Shawhead Coal Spoil Fire 8.”
“When will the Scottish Government take the matter seriously and make the national primary school swimming framework a priority, to ensure that every child in Scotland gets access to that life- saving skill? Natalie Don-Innes: Mr Bibby picked out a couple of points. The Scottish Government continues to fund RoSPA’s provision of operational support to Water Safety Scotland so that it can lead a co-ordinated and preventative approach to water safety. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Sport have met Scottish Swimming to discuss the school swimming framework. It remains an ambition to double the sports budget before the end of this session of Parliament. Should that be delivered, the Scottish Government will support the implementation of the school swimming framework nationwide.”
“Neil Bibby: Research from Scottish Swimming has found that only 16 per cent of community swimming lesson participants come from the most deprived 20 per cent of areas in Scotland, and the cost of lessons has more than doubled since 2018. Cost should not be a barrier to accessing a life-saving skill, yet thousands of children are missing out on crucial water safety skills. Last year, there were 33 accidental drownings in Scotland. As well as each drowning being a tragic loss of life, each one is estimated by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to cost £1.7 million. It is estimated that investing in school swimming would cost only £6 million.”
“The Scottish Government believes that every child should be given the opportunity to learn to swim. Swimming is a life skill that can save lives. There is currently no requirement to report a child’s swimming ability, either locally or nationally, but Scottish Swimming estimates that 25 to 30 per cent of children leave primary school unable to swim. School swimming reduces poverty-related barriers for children and has a significant role to play in addressing inequalities. We are continuing to work with key stakeholders to ensure that all children have the opportunity to become confident, safer and competent swimmers.”
“We are aware that some schools in the Highland Council and Moray Council areas are in an unsatisfactory condition. Two of the D condition schools in the region—Forres and Nairn academies—are being replaced through the learning estate investment programme. There are plans from each council for the other two D condition schools—Charleston and Alves. We will continue to work with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, local authorities and the Scottish Futures Trust to explore how we can deliver further improvements. The Deputy Presiding Officer: With a reminder that the substantive question is around education access in the Highlands and Islands, I call”
“Jamie Halcro Johnston: In January last year, my Conservative colleague Councillor Helen Crawford presented a motion to the Highland Council calling on it to declare a school estate emergency, based on the fact that it has the poorest school estate in Scotland. The council’s Scottish National Party-led administration refused to do so. More than one third of Highland schools are now classed as being in a state of disrepair, with 53 primaries and 11 secondaries falling below acceptable standards. Given that clear neglect of rural education, can the minister explain why— after 18 years of Government—the SNP is still failing to deliver safe and efficient learning environments for Highland pupils? Natalie Don-Innes: First, it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage their school estate.”
“The statutory responsibility for delivering education lies with local authorities, and we recognise the unique challenges that are faced by those in the Highlands and Islands. We are actively engaged with councils and stakeholders in the region. I have met Highlands and Islands Enterprise to discuss rural childcare accessibility. The cabinet secretary and ministerial colleagues have also visited to hear directly from communities. The forthcoming national islands plan and rural delivery plan will include education as a strategic priority. Those plans aim to ensure that communities have a genuine voice in decisions that affect local education provision and ultimately improve outcomes for learners.”
“We are pressing forward with further positive capacity investment and interventions; we continue to work in close partnership with secure care providers, placing authorities and third sector organisations; and we are drawing on their expertise and commitment to ensure that every child receives the care and protection that they need, in safe and trauma-informed environments. In short, we are laying the foundations for a more sustainable and resilient system for the future. I am happy to take questions. The Deputy Presiding Officer: The minister will now take questions on the issues that were raised in her statement. I intend to allow about 20 minutes for questions, after which we will move on to the next item of business. I encourage members who wish to ask a question but have not yet pressed their request-to-speak buttons to do so.”
“Members in the chamber will want to echo that, and I welcome the close attention that many have paid in recent months to what is a most important issue in my portfolio. My statement seeks to reassure members that, over the summer, our focus has very much been on addressing the immediate capacity issues. The interventions and the work that I have set out mean that we are achieving that. I am assured that the steps that we have taken and are taking will minimise the risk that the challenges that were experienced earlier this year will arise again.”
“We should always be cognisant of our responsibilities to not just the children involved but the children’s panel members, the judiciary and the chief social work officers who have to make those decisions, the professionals who support that decision making and the people who provide care. A caring, professional, supported and supportive workforce is vital. The children and young people who are placed into secure care, either in short or longer-term situations, deserve nothing less. I want everyone who works in and around those most difficult and complex circumstances to know that they are valued and appreciated and that we are committed to enhancing their capacity and confidence.”
“That includes the consideration of the future purpose of secure care, the routes into and transitions from it and the more practical aspects of how it will be provided in the future—including commissioning and contract management, and how best to co- ordinate a national response to the acute needs and interests of a very small number of children and young people from across the country, who have a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances. Placing children and young people with complex and acute needs in secure accommodation— sometimes far from family, often outwith their local community and sometimes for considerable periods of time—is one of the most serious things that we as a society do. We should not take that lightly.”
“Those additional houses will not only add useful capacity to the secure care system and estate; they will help to signal our intent, which is shared with secure care providers and partner agencies, to develop what and how we provide in the future. As we start to reimagine secure care for the future, it is important to gather views, knowledge and experience to inform the development of options. As part of the Government’s response to the report “Reimagining secure care”, I have committed to consulting on those options before the end of the parliamentary session.”
“Last month, I had the opportunity to visit Kibble and learn more about the support that it offers to children. For more than 160 years, Kibble has provided support and services to children and young people in Scotland, including the provision of secure care for young people up to the age of 18. Kibble already provides care in three small group houses, which each accommodate up to six young people in a safe and nurturing environment with a consistent staff team that provides round- the-clock care and support. I announce today that the Scottish Government is working with Kibble to construct up to three future-proofed four-bed houses that are designed to create a trauma- informed environment and provide adaptable environments that respond to the evolving and complex needs of the children who are cared for.”
“As announced in January, we have agreed to fund a dedicated professional lead within Social Work Scotland for a 12-month period, to strengthen support for placing authorities, and I am pleased to say that the successful postholder started work at the end of August. The aim is to enhance confidence and awareness among key professionals who work in that challenging environment and, through working closely with Government officials, placing authorities and providers, to support effective decision making and practice. As members will be aware, the needs of children and young people are changing and, often, becoming much more complex. As acknowledged in our response to “Reimagining secure care”, we need our future provision to evolve to meet emerging and developing needs.”
“However, the Promise Scotland has rightly highlighted the need to strike a careful balance between ensuring sufficient capacity to meet current demand without overprovision that could signal overreliance on deprivation of liberty and undermine longer-term sustainability. Planning in a systemic way for change is important. I therefore advise Parliament that we are working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to develop a joint action plan, bringing together local and national Government to co-ordinate efforts, clarify responsibilities and drive progress in a coherent and collaborative way.”
“I am also determined to deliver greater resilience and longer-term sustainability in the sector. I therefore announce today that, subject to the necessary approval and registration, a further new four-bed national contingency resource at Rossie should be operational in early December. Those additional spaces provide the further contingency that our system may require in the longer term, not least to provide safe and appropriate care options for young people who will no longer be placed in young offender institutions, but whose offences still necessitate a deprivation of liberty.”
“In July, the Good Shepherd Centre’s board decided to temporarily restrict capacity from 18 to 12 beds to allow the centre to undertake physical remediation work and recruit to key roles. That temporary restriction has not adversely affected overall capacity across the secure estate, and Good Shepherd continues to accept referrals. When I visited the Good Shepherd Centre last week, I was advised that the board is meeting next week to consider restoration plans. I was encouraged to hear that it continues to make progress in Promise-keeping practice development, in particular in areas around reducing restraint, advancing violence reduction and restorative approaches. Government officials have been actively engaging with St Mary’s and Good Shepherd to offer support to ensure the restoration of full capacity as soon as that is safely possible.”
“Our goal remains to uphold an effective and equitable system for children who might require secure care, recognising that placement decisions rest with independent courts, children’s hearings, chief social work officers and secure accommodation providers. Progress at St Mary’s Kenmure is a key part of our recovery efforts, with staffing increases enabling a safe and sustainable extension of capacity. Government officials continue to provide support to help restore capacity and to meet Care Inspectorate requirements to enhance the quality of the service. We expect St Mary’s to return to offering 14 places by the end of this month, and 16 by the end of 2025.”
“Recent actions that have been delivered include a commitment of up to £8.4 million in funding to cover the placement of sentenced and remanded children, and up to 16 beds across the secure estate to maintain capacity in 2025-26 and 2026- 27. There has also been a commitment of up to £2 million in funding to support contingency actions in 2025-26, updated practice guidance on alternatives to secure care, which was published in March 2025, and a new four-bed national contingency resource, which opened in April at Rossie. Significant work is under way to strengthen the provision of secure care, and access to it.”
“That system must, by necessity, provide an intensive trauma-informed environment for the very small number of children whose needs in relation to safety, support and stability are acute. However, it must also aim to reduce the need for secure care through earlier, more effective intervention. Our immediate priority is, of course, to stabilise and strengthen secure accommodation capacity. As of today, 11 secure care places are available. That relatively positive position is one that we have seen for the past four months. It comes as a result of close monitoring and collaboration to restore capacity and to build resilience in the system.”
“Over the past year, I have updated Parliament several times on recent challenges in the provision of secure care in Scotland and on the actions that this Government has taken to address them. I also committed to inform Parliament of work being undertaken to build on the strengths, address weaknesses, and deliver a sustainable, future-proofed system that is aligned with the Promise. In June, I published the Government’s response to the report “Reimagining secure care: a vision for the future”, which focuses on the actions that are necessary to achieve that. I want to ensure that Scotland’s secure care system treats children as children, with their rights and wellbeing at the heart of all decisions that are made with, for and about them.”
“That does not come without its challenges, and I hope that I have been clear in the debate that I am willing to listen and to act on concerns that members, families and the sector raise. Health Service (Long-term Sustainability)”
“I reiterate that I understand the concerns around that, which is why it was my priority to more effectively understand the costs involved and why I prioritised starting the cost-collection exercise, helping us to understand the issue further and inform the guidance for setting rates next year. I had a meeting with ELC stakeholders just last week, and I believe that there is a feeling of positivity around that. I will share the outcomes from the sector later this year. We are committed to giving every child in Scotland the best start in life, no matter their family circumstances. Our approach is based on the needs of children. We continue to make significant investment to give every eligible child the opportunity to benefit from 1,140 hours.”
“It is important to note how Scotland deals with deferrals. The Government has legislated to ensure that all children whose school entry is deferred can continue to receive funded ELC until they start school. That is enabling families to make decisions without the need to apply to the local authority, which is an important step in supporting parents to make decisions in the best interests of their child. I am conscious of time, and I have not been able to get through all my points, but I must come back to Mr Whitfield’s point. Indeed, Mr Greene and other members also mentioned the funding model.”
“Children currently exit funded ELC provision at different ages due to the standardised entry point once per year in primary school. Although allowing those children to start as soon as they reach the age of three might seem fairer, those children who would receive the most extra entitlement, because they are born before or during the summer, are already likely to be receiving a full two years of funded ELC. I do not think that that is the answer to all the concerns that have been raised today, but it is an important point to highlight. It makes it clear that we perhaps need to consider other ways to improve equity in the system—and that is exactly why I stated that I am willing to listen and to discuss the issue. I agree with Mr Greene, who pointed out that other options could be considered.”
“Within the current structure, local authorities have the ability to put in place expanded or flexible arrangements locally should they choose to do so, as members have rightly pointed out—and I know that many authorities have been doing that. However, if the Parliament were to amend the minimum expectation, it would need to identify the significant additional funding that is required to cover the additional ELC hours that the system would have to make available. I also point out that, even were start dates to be standardised to birth dates, that would not necessarily deliver an equitable amount of funded ELC per child. In fact, in many cases, it could create a bigger disparity. That is a technical point, but an important one.”
“I have listened with real interest to the points that members have made about start dates and about equity in the system. Of course, I appreciate the difficulties that parents face when systems change in their local area. Guidance was written in such a way as to allow local authorities flexibility. Members across the Parliament believe that local authorities should have flexibility, because we know that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Any change to the current minimum expectation around start dates would require a change to legislation, which would place additional duties on local authorities.”
“The fact that 95 per cent of three and four-year-olds are registered to take up funded hours is a testament to the childcare sector in Scotland, which delivers that every day. Throughout that delivery, we have been evaluating the ELC expansion, and we expect to publish a report on that first full evaluation in early 2026, covering several strands including the Scottish study of early learning and childcare and the parent and carer surveys that were carried out before, during and after the ELC expansion. That is important. As I have said, I am listening. When the reports are published, we will, of course, take the time to work with stakeholders across the ELC sector to understand what the reports tell us and what we can learn for the future.”
“I am also proud of the support that we have prioritised for the ELC workforce. In the most recent budget, we committed a further £9.7 million to ensuring that the people who deliver the funded hours are paid at least the living wage. Unlike the United Kingdom Government, we have legislated to introduce a nursery rates relief scheme, through which we provide 100 per cent relief on non- domestic rates to eligible day nurseries, which has saved the sector more than £11 million this year alone. Martin Whitfield: Is the Scottish Government still confident that the private nursery sector’s financial model works? Natalie Don-Innes: I will get on to talking about that funding model. I would like to consider where we are right now, as it is important to recognise how far we have come since we delivered the policy.”