SNP manifesto: party commits to introduction of 30 hours

In its manifesto, published today, the party promises to deliver on this expanded free entitlement by 2021. Pilots of the 30 hours are currently under way in Scotland.

The SNP says it will continue to invest in and reform school education through current policies and won’t introduce selective grammar schools in Scotland.

Within its manifesto, the party also pledges to abolish the two-child cap on tax credits and to continue to argue for a complete halt to the roll-out of Universal Credit until it is designed to treat everyone with ‘fairness and respect’. Its goal is also to have the Universal Credit fully devolved in Scotland.

Other plans include urging the UK Government to follow the lead of the SNP Scottish Government and reintroduce UK-wide child poverty targets, along with the establishment of a Poverty and Inequality Commission.

The party would also increase the national minimum wage to the same level as the 'real living wage', currently set at £8.45, and projected to rise to £10.60 per hour by 2022.

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said, 'The SNP’s pledge to expand free early learning and childcare for three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds, reiterates the existing policy laid out the current government ‘Early Learning and Childcare Blueprint’. The manifesto also brings a new commitment to ensure all over 18s are paid the real living wage – currently £8.45 per hour.

'Private and third sector nurseries are vital partners to government in providing high-quality, flexible early learning and childcare. Research shows that children who receive high quality early learning will have the best life chances and parents will be helped to work by support with costs, but it is vital that we have a well-paid nursery sector to ensure there are enough places to deliver these promises for parents.

'For too long, low funding rates for childcare hours in private and third sector nurseries have held down the pay of dedicated nursery workers. Any move to ensure all adults receive at least the real living wage must be backed up with the right funding, to ensure childcare costs for the hours parents buy for younger children and on top of their free place do not become unaffordable.'

NDNA has set out its new Childcare Passport proposal to all political parties. This would use the online accounts already being set up for Tax Free Childcare to pool all current, complex funding streams into one simple account which parents would manage and use to pay their choice of provider.

'NDNA’s election manifesto calls on the next government to work with us on this plan which, with the right investment, could allow ambitious ‘free’ childcare plans to become a reality.'

A spokesperson for Early Years Scotland said, 'We welcome the SNP’s commitment to invest meaningfully and significantly in the early years of children’s lives, as we know that this is the most important and sound investment that any country can make.

'Early Years Scotland backs the commitment to increase early education to 1,140 hours,  for all three and four year olds, and two year olds from low income households by 2021.'