20 January 2016

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited North Edinburgh Childcare to speak to staff and children at the centre.

She was accompanied by Naomi Eisenstadt, the Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality, as she published her report into what more the Scottish Government and others can do to tackle poverty in Scotland.

Ms Eisenstadt’s ‘Shifting the Curve’ report follows six months of seeking views from stakeholders across Scotland, including people with experience of living on a low income.

She made a number of recommendations to further tackle poverty around three main areas – in-work poverty, housing affordability and young people’s life chances.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“I thank Naomi for the work she has carried out and welcome the report that she has published today. We now need to study it and look at what we’re doing well and should continue to do, and where we can improve. We will respond formally to the report before the end of March and set out how we intend to take forward its recommendations.”

The First Minister confirmed early action on one of the report’s recommendations, announcing £1 million of funding for up to six early learning and childcare trials to test different delivery models.

The trials will consider how to increase flexibility, better meet the needs of parents and children and meet local requirements, with the results being used as part of the expansion of childcare to 1140 hours a year.

FM with kids at launch of poverty report pic.twitter.com/3B2vX4XgJ3

— Colin Mackay (@STVColin) January 20, 2016

They visited North Edinburgh Childcare, a charity which enables local parents to access increased opportunities for work, training or education by providing affordable and flexible childcare.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon added:

“This report from the Poverty Adviser highlights the importance that access to quality early learning and childcare has for both children and adults in tackling poverty. It helps improve educational outcomes, while it allows parents and carers to return to work, education or training.

“By trialling different methods with local authorities and child care providers, we will be better able to understand what parents and children need and want, and what is actually working. This will be crucial as we move forward with our transformational expansion of childcare.”

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon in North Edinburgh this morning pic.twitter.com/BOUD2blLwf

— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) January 20, 2016

You can read more about the report here and further information on the £1 million childcare announcement is available here.