A drive to expand free early learning and childcare (ELC) is under threat from Government-imposed conditions that are creating yawning pay gaps and driving nursery staff to leave for jobs in shops, MSPs have been warned.
Concerns are growing after the introduction of a landmark statutory duty that means councils must secure 1,140 annualised hours of funded ELC for all 3- and 4-year-olds, as well as eligible 2-year-olds. This is up from 600 hours previously.
