Childcare and Early Years Minister Mark McDonald says there are now 600 hours early years childcare since 2014 and the government will go further in this parliament.

Mr McDonald says the government estimates another 20,000 additional staff will be required to deliver this "transformational expansion". 

SNP MSP David Torrance asks what action the government will take to increase early years learning and childcare.

Mr Scott says there is an emerging skills gap and that the Scottish government is not providing the training required for the future.

Mr Swinney says the government has worked with Skills Development Scotland to put plans together to address this.

He says it is essential the skills and investment plans satisfy the changing digital world.

Mr Swinney says he is committed to maintaining an all age career service in Scotland.

Scottish Conservative MSP John Scott asks what the results of information gathered by local authorities on schoolchildren show about their career path aspirations, other than attending college or university.

The education secretary says he met with the EIS at the weekend.

Mr Harvie says the EIS seeks remedies from the SQA to avoid industrial action.

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Mr Swinney says he acknowledges there will be aspects of the increased teacher workload due to the Scottish government, but also from local authorities and school.

He says he is committed to tackling teacher workload but he needs local government and schools to work with him. 

The possibility of a teachers' strike has come a step closer after delegates at the EIS conference backed a motion calling for a ballot if their workload is not cut.

Image source, Jetta Productions

The union is currently holding a ballot on action short of a strike which is due to close next Thursday.

It would be up to the union's ruling council to decide when to hold any subsequent strike ballot.

But a strike ballot is unlikely to be held before the autumn.

Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie asks what recent discussions the government has had with the EIS regarding its ballot for industrial action.

Mr Swinney says he has made it very clear he wishes to clear clutter from the curriculum to allow teachers to teach but asks for time. 

Scottish Conservative MSP Maurice Golden asks what plans the government has to enhance education and skills for a circular economy.  

Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott asks if the attainment fund will go to all schools eligible for free school meals and Mr Swinney says that is a fair summation. 

Mr Cameron asks if Mr Swinney agrees that much more of school's budgets should be controlled by head teachers

The cabinet secretary says: "Generally I do agree with that point of view."

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Labour MSP Iain Gray asks about the funding required to make good his promise.

Mr Swinney says he will set out the details to parliament shortly and says the government's commitment will be to allocate that £100m each year to the areas that need it most.

Education Secretary John Swinney says £750m will be allocated to narrow the attainement gap.

Mr Swinney says an additional £100m will be invested in schools and the level of investment for each individual school depends on its size and number of pupils.

He says the government will target support to over 300 primary schools in the most deprived areas and extend the scope to include high schools.

Scottish Conservative MSP Donald Cameron asks whether the full £750 million pledged for the Scottish Attainment Challenge will be given to headteachers to spend on their individual schools’ priorities.

Higher Education Minister Shirley-Anne Somerville says the government accepts more needs to be done on university access and an announcement will be made shortly.

Ms Somerville says a number of issues must be looked at when looking at widening access.

Tory MSP Liz Smith asks if the government will provide more university places to widen access.

The minister says it is not as straightforward as that and says the Widening Access Commission, external is looking into the issue.

The first minister has acknowledged there is "work to do" last week after statistics showed a fall in the number of 18-year-olds from Scotland's poorest areas going to university.

But Nicola Sturgeon insisted it was "quite simply wrong" to suggest progress was not being made.

She was speaking at first minister's questions after the figures were raised by Labour leader Kezia Dugdale.

The data was released by university admissions body Ucas.

It showed that 1,215 applicants from the most deprived 20% of areas were awarded a university place last year, down from 1,305 the previous year.

SNP MSP Willie Coffey to ask the Scottish government how it will ensure fair access to universities for young people from every community.  

Mr Swinney says the government has allocated up to £11.6m for the replacement of schools in South Lanakrshire.

SNP MSP Clare Haughey asks how much the government has invested in building or refurbishing schools in South Lanarkshire since 2007.  

Education Secretary John Swinney says the government is taking a number of measures to support the take up of teaching posts in the Moray area.

This includes working with the Highlands and Islands University and Aberdeen University, he says.

Mr Swinney says he will endeavour to meet with teachers in Moray.