John Swinney has promised to get more parents into work by transforming childcare.
The First Minister said too many families in Scotland faced barriers to accessing support.
As part of the programme for government, the SNP leader promised reforms to increase help for families with children from nine months through to the end of primary school.
However, consultation on the Government’s plans will not begin until next year, with reforms going through a “phased approach over time”.
High-quality childcare plays an important role in helping children thrive, easing cost-of-living pressures and creating opportunities for parents and carers to work, train and study
It will begin with a £44 million yearly investment in breakfast clubs in primary schools from August 2027 followed by the introduction of after-school and holiday childcare for primary school children from August 2029.
The First Minister also announced the first recipients of the £15 million childcare support fund, which the Government said is expected to help organisations support around 4,800 low-income families with the cost of childcare.
Mr Swinney spoke ahead of a visit with Education Secretary Mairi McAllan to Fintry Mains childcare and community hub in Dundee, one of the organisations benefiting from the funding.
He said: “High-quality childcare plays an important role in helping children thrive, easing cost-of-living pressures and creating opportunities for parents and carers to work, train and study.
“Too many families still face barriers to accessing the childcare they need.
“By transforming the support available to families from nine months through to the end of primary school we will help more parents and carers into employment, boost household incomes and give children the best possible start in life.
“Alongside our long-term plans to transform childcare, the £15 million childcare support fund announced today will provide practical support to families who need it most.
“This forms part of our wider programme for government, which is focused on making tangible improvements to people’s lives by creating jobs, raising living standards and growing Scotland’s economy to help eradicate child poverty.”
Susan McGhee, chief executive of Flexible Childcare Services Scotland, which runs Fintry Mains Childcare, said: “Receiving a grant from the Scottish Government’s childcare support fund will allow us to support even more families across Scotland.
“We already deliver flexible childcare to over 1,000 parents a year and, according to our research, those families are more than £2 million better-off thanks to our book-by-the-hour model.
“We look forward to working alongside Midlothian Sure Start and Renfrewshire Out of School Network to ensure families can access affordable, flexible all-age childcare within their communities.”
Chloe Sinclair, whose three-year-old daughter Lola attends Fintry Mains Childcare, said: “I heard good things about Flexible Childcare Services Scotland from other parents.
“The flexibility has really helped me and my partner as we work shifts and need to know our three-year-old daughter Lola is cared for.
“Being able to book what we need is ideal for our jobs and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.”
Flexible Childcare Services Scotland will receive £878,367 while Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector, Scottish Out Of School Care Network and Early Years Scotland are among the organisations receiving up to £1 million.