South Scotland SNP MSP Joan McAlpine has welcomed an announcement by the Scottish Government announcement that Dumfries and Galloway is set to receive ten additional teachers or graduates as part of an additional £1.5 million investment for more nursery teachers and graduates.

 

The new staff in Dumfries and Galloway, part of 435 nationwide, is part of the wider strategy of tackling the attainment gap and giving every child an equal start in life. The provision of these high qualified childcare professionals will ensure that the region’s children benefit from the highest quality care and early years education.

 

The Scottish Government is taking decisive action to improve early years learning and childcare, including expanding guaranteed free provision to 1140 hours by 2020 – which will have a positive impact for families across Dumfries and Galloway.

 

Commenting, SNP MSP Joan McAlpine said:

 

“This new funding is very welcome news for Dumfries and Galloway, helping to ensure that more children in our most deprived communities are able to benefit from specialised childcare and high quality early years learning.

 

“The Scottish Government is committed to closing the attainment gap, and targeting funding in this way, as well as expanding the guaranteed free childcare provision from 1140 hours to 2020 hours, is important in making this happen, and to ensure that every child across Dumfries and Galloway gets an equal start in life.

 

“The ten new graduates or teachers that will be joining our workforce in Dumfries and Galloway will help improve childcare provision in our communities, and I look forward to seeing the Scottish Government continue to invest in our children’s futures.”

 

Table: Allocation of Additional Graduate Places by Local Authorities

 

Local Authority	Number of Additional Graduates		Local Authority	Number of Additional Graduates
Aberdeen City	6		Inverclyde	8
Aberdeenshire	6		Midlothian	3
Angus	3		Moray	2
Argyll & Bute	3		North Ayrshire	24
Clackmannanshire	7		North Lanarkshire	40
Dumfries & Galloway	10		Perth & Kinross	2
Dundee City	21		Renfrewshire	26
East Ayrshire	15		Scottish Borders	3
East Dunbartonshire	2		South Ayrshire	12
East Lothian	3		South Lanarkshire	26
East Renfrewshire	1		Stirling	5
Edinburgh, City of	20		West Dunbartonshire	11
Falkirk	8		West Lothian	19
Fife	28		Eilean Siar	1
Glasgow City	112		Orkney	1
Highland	6		Shetland	1