17 August 2017

The First Minster dropped in to Butterfly nursery in Arden, Glasgow to celebrate the launch of Scotland’s new Baby Box initiative.

The initiative will mean all newborns and their parents will receive a box of essential items to help them through their first six months.

The stage is set at Butterfly nursery in Arden for FM @NicolaSturgeon to visit this morning to highlight benefits of #ScotBabyBox pic.twitter.com/dUy2i3PoGV

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) August 16, 2017

The First Minister got a warm welcome from Butterfly Nursery’s babies, who will be among the first to benefit from the Scottish Government’s commitment to double funded childcare provision by the end of this Parliament.

Reiterating her government’s plans to tackle inequality and promote health, the First Minister said:

Scotland’s Baby Box is giving children the best possible start in life, and we are committed to doing all we can to make sure Scotland is the best place for a child to grow up.

“Our commitment to almost doubling entitlement to free early learning and childcare hours will benefit the Baby Box generation and ensure they can grow and develop in the very best environments, like the one I visited today. It will also benefit families by allowing parents to go back to work or further study.”

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon has reiterated #ScotGov commitment to expanding free early learning and childcare pic.twitter.com/N0hW8uAI00

— Scottish Government (@scotgov) August 17, 2017

Members of Scotland’s Baby Box generation will also benefit from a new Early Years Grant and Healthy Start Voucher scheme for low income families, an expanded Family Nurse Partnership programme, and 500 more health visitors.