The Scottish Government’s National Improvement Framework aimed to support children from deprived backgrounds by funding 435 “equity and excellence lead” posts in nurseries.
However, 29% of these posts remain unfilled, a figure that has sparked criticism. The Liberal Democrats argue that the vacancies contribute to the widening attainment gap between pupils from the wealthiest and most deprived areas.
Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson, Willie Rennie, voiced his concerns over the unfilled roles, saying that simply creating these positions does not address the underlying issues. He proposed introducing a “Nursery Premium” modelled on the successful pupil premium, which would direct funds to nurseries supporting the poorest children. The Liberal Democrats assert that without filled roles, the children who most need help are missing out on vital early learning support.
The Scottish Government has defended its position, stating that the responsibility for recruitment lies with local authorities. Local governments have the flexibility to use the funds according to local needs. However, as nearly a third of posts remain vacant, many feel that this approach is insufficient. As the gap in educational performance between the most affluent and most deprived children continues to widen, filling these posts is seen as essential to achieving Scotland’s goal of narrowing the poverty-related attainment gap.
“Grandiose titles mean little if so many of these roles remain unfilled.” – Willie Rennie, Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP
The vacant nursery posts represent a missed opportunity to provide essential support to children from deprived backgrounds. While the Scottish Government has delegated responsibility to local authorities, the unfilled positions suggest more needs to be done to ensure that children from Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities receive the help they need to close the educational gap. A concerted effort is needed to address these vacancies and ensure every child can thrive regardless of their background.
