The Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion programme will see a number of local authority nurseries, along with partner providers in the private sector, offer parents almost double the number of free childcare hours.
Backed by £7million of capital investment support and £11.8M of revenue support, phase one of the expansion is already underway in Stirling.
In August 2018, five local authority nurseries, two private nurseries and 13 childminders in the Bannockburn and McLaren areas of Stirling started offering the increased hours to families.
Phase two will start in August 2019, with the Stirling learning community, McLaren and Wallace. The remaining two areas, Dunblane and Balfron, will be part of phase three from August 2020.
At Thursday’s meeting of the Children and Young People Committee, members were presented with a delivery plan that set out the support, planning and preparation to meet the expansion of early learning and childcare within Stirling Council.
Councillors voted to agree the plan and to continue to review its implementation, with regular updates provided to the committee highlighting any challenges that emerge.
Councillor Susan McGill, Convenor of the Children and Young People Committee, said: “We want Stirling to be a nurturing and respectful place for children, young people, their families and communities.
“We are ambitious for our children and their future, and we are committed to improving, developing and modernising the way we deliver our service.
“Agreeing this plan allows us to move forward without delay in our expansion plans, and we will closely engage and support all stakeholders during this process of significant change.”
Earlier this month, Cllr McGill met with staff and children at Red Kite Community Nursery in Doune, which has been part of the roll out in phase one of the expansion.
Vice Convener of the Children and Young People Committee, Councillor Margaret Brisley said: “This delivery plan was formed by consultation and feedback from meetings and discussions with practitioners, key stakeholders and bodies, including private partners.
“It shows that our vision of offering a wide choice of quality providers and a flexible model of provision which is tailored to support the needs of working families.”
The expansion of early learning and childcare is part of a Scottish Government policy to provide all three and four-year-olds, and eligible two-year-olds, with an increase in free childcare from 600 hours to 1140 hours a year by 2020.
It’s designed to ensure all children get the best possible start in life and to support working families. It will be delivered in every local authority across Scotland.
The capital projects to support delivery of the initiative are still at a high feasibility stage and are subject to review. Current plans would see six nurseries extended, one nursery relocated and 23 nurseries undergo major and minor refurbishment.
Private and not for profit partner nurseries and childminders are included in each phase of the roll out and are key partners in Stirling Council’s expansion of early learning and childcare.
Note: Pictured are Councillor Susan McGill alongside Red Kite Community Nursery Manager, Tracey Stewart, and children at the nursery, Struan and Elsie.