Dundee-based MSP Jenny Marra has slammed the SNP over the removal of Early Years Practitioners (EYPs) from primary schools.
The practitioners have been transferred from primary schools to nurseries, where the Scottish Government picks up the bill, as part of a cost saving measure.
However, the MSP has suggested that a £41 million child care commitment from the Scottish Government could have been used to save the EYPs.
Speaking to The Courier, she said: “The Scottish Government have allocated £41 million next financial year to pay for 600 hours child care commitment.
“What is Dundee City Council doing with that money?
“It seems to me that they have taken that money and are ploughing it into savings and who loses out but Primary one, two and three pupils with their literacy and numeracy support.
“The levels of attainment in this city cannot and do not justify that.”
The debate over the transfer of EYPs was hotly contested at the budget meeting, which Ms Marra attended.
The revenue budget, which shifted the EYPs to nurseries to save £287,000, was voted through with a majority of four.
SNP councillor and education convener, Stewart Hunter, hit back at the comments.
He said: “I think the first thing to say is that, had we been able to use that money to keep EYPs in primary schools we would have done so.
“There’s a variety of areas that we have put the money into, such as school meals.
“All the research shows that targeting children at a very young age, even before they are born, is crucial in their development.
“It is not just about reading and writing but about giving children the confidence to learn and that is something that has to begin before primary school.
“I was pleased to see that Jenny Marra was at the budget meeting. Hopefully from that she will have heard the real story.”