Petition to expand childcare

I was just thinking about this the other day! Thanks for sharing 😊

I’ve also shared this to a couple of mum Facebook groups I’m in. Hopefully just to draw attention to it

I was talking about this with a friend the other day hope something will be done

Signed and shared!

That’s great, signed!

Signed and shared on LinkedIn, keeping my fingers crossed with 2 under 2 at the moment 🤪

I’ve signed too. This is something I have been in touch with MSPs about both in the Scottish government (the responses I have got from them are not helpful at all). I have even approached opposition parties to see if they can help. Ultimately, although the UK government allocated the funds to the SNP to do this back in January they have decided to spend it elsewhere. Their outgoings are too high because their welfare bill is through the roof and they don’t bring in enough in taxes even though we pay more income tax here. My concern would be if they did decide to follow suit with the rest of the UK then they would tax us even more. I have still signed though because this is about principle for me. I’m sure if we get a Labour government here in Scotland in 2026 they will manage the purse strings better but by then it will be too late for us paying thousands per year right now for childcare just so we can work, or for those mums who can’t afford to work at all due to childcare costs. X

@Chelsea if they don't have money to give free childcare to everyone from 9 months, they should stop giving it from 2 years to those on benefit and give this to working people instead. Simple. People on benefits no need of free childcare if they don't work, they can stay home and watch the kids, not the same for working people who most of the time decide to stay home watching the kids because going to work means paying the whole income in childcare. So what's the point of going to work, paying your whole income from that work in childcare so that some strangers can raise your child instead of you?

@Veronica completely agree to an extent. But I think the reason they fund the 2 year olds for those on certain benefits it’s to try and bridge the attainment gap because essentially it’s not the child’s fault that the parent can’t afford the early years provision that those who can afford it are able to provide for their children. Personally, I find it frustrating that me and my partner work full time and pay £1500 per month for nursery every month just so we can work and pay a lot more in tax than everywhere else in the UK. When you look at the spending from our current government and what they are doing with our taxes it’s pretty questionable, especially for those who are just trying their best. Not getting these funded hours like the rest of the UK was a bit of a kick in the teeth. Apparently they have a proposal to put up everyone’s income tax again in Scotland by another 2%. Personally we cannot keep giving while we are being squeezed so much in every other way x

@Veronica also in the response I got from Natalie Don in the SNP was that they cannot afford this but that they are piloting this funding for 9 month olds in certain areas “for those who need it most” when I looked into it a bit further that pilot applies to the same criteria as the current funding for 2 year olds (I.e. in receipt of certain benefits). I’ve not heard anything else about this pilot or what council areas it’s running in. But like the 30 funded hours for 3 year olds, that was brought in by the UK government and Scotland were also given the money to do it. Like this, they didn’t do it at the same time and it took them years to follow suit, all the while working parents here were missing out. I’m sure we will get this eventually with the push back from the public but I think it will take years and even higher taxes x