Nurseries in Scotland to see £1.5m invested in boosting employment levels

Funding of £1.5 is to be used to help with nursery staff levels in deprived parts of Scotland. This announcement has come from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

This funding will enable nurseries in deprived areas to benefit from an additional graduate by 2018. It is believed that increasing the number of graduates and early years teachers will help close the attainment gaps, giving children the best possible start in life. £1m of the funding will be used to support 126 additional teacher training places, and by the end of the next year, 100 extra staff will be ready to enter childcare. Also, £400,00 will be used to fund an extra 270 extra places on BA Childhood Practice course from August

For nurseries in the most deprived areas of Scotland to have an extra graduate 435 extra graduate are required.

Over a period of years, Scotland nurseries have seen a decline in the number of graduates/teachers employed, however with funding being invested this may help Scotland nurseries meet the requirement of having an extra graduate by 2018