Campaigners for more free childcare have criticised Nicola Sturgeon for the SNP’s slow progress on the pledge.
The Scottish Government promised to double free childcare last year, but parents are angry that their questions have not been answered on the issue.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson challenged Ms Sturgeon on the issue at First Minister’s Questions today, saying while she enjoyed the headlines when outlining the pledge, parents are accusing her of not coming good on it.
Fair Funding for Our Kids today published a letter they wrote to the First Minister on the matter.
They said – in a meeting they had with Glasgow City Council – those in charge of delivering the pledge described it as “impossible”.
The group was also critical of education secretary Angela Constance after she failed to answer a range of questions in a meeting.
Those questions included how many extra nursery places would be needed, how many additional staff would be required, how many more nurseries would have to be built, and where the money for all this would come from.
Today, the First Minister said it would cost £880 million, which would be set-out in the upcoming budget.
Around 20,000 new staff would be required, which she said would come from a mixture of college placements and apprentices.
She added that talks were ongoing with local authorities on how to establish greater capacity.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:
“The SNP government has form for offering the world but failing to deliver.
“It’s no wonder this group of parents are so concerned about the First Minister’s ability to make good on her childcare pledge.
“The education secretary appeared clueless and unable to answer any questions on the issue.
“They attended a meeting with Glasgow City Council – which is going to be the biggest provider of this pledge – only to be told it’s ‘impossible’.
“These parents believed the Scottish Government a year ago when it said it wanted to help.
“But now they feel utterly disillusioned and have lost all trust.
“The First Minister has enjoyed the headlines on this subject, but now she has to start delivering.”