The Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025
Draft 2025, ISBN 9780111061978
Draft Order laid before the Scottish Parliament under section 99(2) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 for approval by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.
Education
Made 2025
Coming into force
for the purpose of article 2(a) 6th April 2025
for all other purposes 1st April 2025
The Scottish Ministers make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 47(2)(c)(ii) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014f1, and all other powers enabling them to do so.
In accordance with section 99(2) of that Act, a draft of this instrument has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.
Annotations to the whole text
Footnotes
- f1
Contents
- 1Citation and commencement
- 2Amendment of the Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Order 2014
- Signature
- Explanatory note
1Citation and commencement
This Order may be cited as the Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 and, subject to paragraph (2), comes into force on 1 April 2025.
Article 2(a) comes into force on 6 April 2025.
2Amendment of the Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Order 2014
In article 1(2) of the Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Order 2014f1 (citation, commencement, interpretation and application), in the definition of “qualifying benefit”—
omit paragraph (g),
on each occasion where it appears, for “£796” substitute “£850”.
Signature
Name
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
Date
Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order amends the Provision of Early Learning and Childcare (Specified Children) (Scotland) Order 2014 (“the 2014 Order”). The 2014 Order specifies those children who are eligible pre-school children for the purposes of section 47(2)(c)(ii) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 and who are therefore entitled to the mandatory amount of early learning and childcare (as defined in section 48 of that Act).
The 2014 Order specifies that certain children whose parents are in receipt of “qualifying benefits” are eligible pre-school children. This Order amends the definition of “qualifying benefits” in article 1(2) of the 2014 Order. This has the effect that a child is an eligible pre-school child where the child’s parent is in receipt of universal credit under the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5) provided that the person’s (or, where the parent is a member of a couple, the couple’s) income does not exceed £850 in the assessment period preceding the application for early learning and childcare being made.
This Order also amends article 1(2) to remove paragraph (g) (child tax credit) from the definition of “qualifying benefit”. Tax credits are ending on 5 April 2025 and are being replaced by Universal Credit.