ITS TIME TO IMPROVE NURSERY AND CHILDCARE PROVISION IN POLLOK

Many people in Glasgow Pollok are still reeling from the closure of services provided by One Plus, who provided Childcare, mentoring and other education services in the Constituency.

I recently attended a public meeting where 2 former employees of One Plus are trying to maintain these services, by setting up their own Childcare organisation. Other providers who have taken over the services provided by One Plus, have immediately increased prices, resulting in many families in Pollok being unable to afford childcare.

On average Scottish families are paying £600 a month for child care fees, which is a second mortgage for many, and a recent study showed that many women pay almost all their salary for child care fees.

As part of a 10 year strategy for early years the SNP is committed to increasing the provision of free nursery education by 50% with families benefiting from longer hours and more weeks of free provision.

Not only will families in Glasgow Pollok benefit from this proposal, experts also agree that if we do more to ensure improved educational provision for nursery age children, they will see real benefits throughout their time in education.

The SNP is committed that this will be the first step towards providing free nursery and childcare provision enjoyed in similar nations such as Norway.

We in the SNP want to make life easier for Parents, and at the same time offer children the best start for their education.

We want families to have the best support in the world, which is why we are committed to gaining the control Scotland needs to deliver the best possible deal for families in Glasgow Pollok and throughout Scotland.

Over the coming months I look forward to campaigning on this issue and discussing how our proposals will see real benefit to people in the Constituency.