£9.8 million to mitigate economic impacts of Omicron.
Childcare services hit by Omicron will be able to apply for grants of up to £4,500.
Nearly 5,800 services could benefit from the new £9.8 million Childcare Sector Omicron Impacts Fund.
Registered childminders, as well as private and third sector children’s day care services can apply from 8 March.
This includes early learning and childcare settings, and school–aged childcare services.
To date, the Scottish Government has made available around £35 million of dedicated financial support to childcare services during the pandemic.
Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said:
“The childcare sector was badly hit by Omicron – many settings experienced increased levels of staff and child absence, resulting in temporary loss of income.
“These one-off grants are aimed at helping providers to mitigate some of those acute financial challenges.
“I would like to thank childcare providers for their continued efforts to provide vital, high quality services to children and families during these most difficult of times.
“In doing so, they have helped to keep the whole country functioning.
“I am truly grateful for their commitment and dedication.”
Jane Brumpton, Chief Executive of Early Years Scotland said:
“We welcome the launch of this new Childcare Sector Omicron Impacts Fund that can be accessed by the wide range of childcare services across Scotland that support our youngest children.
“Over the course of the pandemic, staff and managers in early learning and childcare, childminding and school-aged childcare services have worked tirelessly to offer high-quality services for children and families, despite facing ongoing financial and workforce pressures.
“This one-off grant will help to off-set some of the recent challenges experienced, and acknowledge the hard work and dedication provided by early learning and childcare staff nationally.”
