OPPOSITION politicians have attacked the Scottish Government's strategy for childcare in an independent Scotland.

The criticism came after the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) re- iterated concerns first aired earlier this year that the current system cannot deliver the expansion proposed by the SNP.

Under the current system, local authorities receive money from the Scottish Government to fund 12.5 hours per week at state and some private or independent nurseries for children aged three and four.

The Scottish Government's White Paper on independence proposes an expansion to 1140 hours of free childcare - equivalent to 30 hours a week - for every three, four and vulnerable two-year-old by the end of the first independent parliament.

However, as The Herald reported in February, a survey of private nurseries by the NDNA showed the full cost of the current scheme is not being met.

Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Labour's education spokeswoman, said: "We found out a couple of weeks ago that there was no financial modelling... to support the SNP's assertions about the affordability of their childcare pledges and now a leading organisation of nursery providers tells us that the plans are unworkable and unsustainable. This is no way to go about tackling one of the biggest issues facing Scottish families."

A Scottish Government spokesman acknowledged "key challenges" around the proposals were still to be finalised and would be discussed with partnership organisations.