More Free Childcare

1,140 Funded Hours

Education is the best route there is to giving everyone a fair start in life. This must start with the very youngest children.

Funded childcare is also essential in enabling parents to work and earn, while not shelling out thousands on the likes of nursery fees.

Under the SNP in Scotland, all eligible children now benefit from at least 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare. If families paid for this themselves, it would cost them more than £6,000 per eligible child per year.

Scotland remains the only part of the UK to offer this level of free provision to all 3 and 4-year-olds and eligible 2-year-olds, regardless of their parents’ working status – putting children first.

The SNP Government’s investment in funded early learning and childcare is vital to achieving its ambition for a diverse, thriving and sustainable childcare sector.

The SNP is working to eradicate child poverty and improve the lives of children. This includes increasing uptake of the childcare offer for two-year-olds, and testing new systems of childcare through investment in six Early Adopter Communities, including in Dundee, which are local systems of funded childcare for families who need it most.

The SNP Scottish Government has provided millions of pounds in funding and a pay uplift for staff delivering ELC in the private and third sectors, and funded a new programme to recruit and retain childminders.

Childcare for all in Scotland

Speaking to the SNP Conference in March 2026, First Minister John Swinney confirmed that if re-elected, the SNP would roll out a new childcare system which benefits every family in Scotland, all year round.

"I can announce today, that a re-elected SNP Government will extend childcare for every child in our country from 9 months old to the end of Primary School. And available 52 weeks a year. More transformational change- delivered by the SNP."