Backed by £7million of capital investment support and £11.8M of revenue support, the Council has started phase one of the delivery of the Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion programme.
The work 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.
From August 2018, five local authority nurseries, two private nurseries and 13 childminders in the Bannockburn and McLaren areas of Stirling started offering the service to families as part of the first phase of a three-year roll out.
The expansion of early learning and childcare is part of a Scottish Government policy to provide 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.
The policy is 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.
Red Kite Community Nursery in Doune is one of the private partner nurseries in phase one of the early learning and childcare expansion in Stirling.
Tracey Stewart, Red Kite’s manager said: “The increase in funding means we can open full days instead of just mornings and this has been great for our families.
“We are a small community-based nursery, providing childcare to local families for over 20 years. The extended opening times have been well received by our parents and we have seen an increase in the number of children using us.”
Along with increasing staff numbers through government funding, Stirling Council’s plans for the early learning and childcare expansion involves working closely with partner providers in the private sector to support them in the increase of free childcare hours.
Councillor Susan McGill, convenor of the Council’s Children and Young People Committee, said: “We are working with partners to put together a package of support which includes funded training opportunities for their staff, a significant increase in the hourly rate we pay them to deliver the service, and a dedicated quality improvement officer to support them with the expansion.
“Many of our partners are childminders and small businesses who rely on fast payments to support their cash flow. To help with this, we have put in place a system of speedy and advanced payments in place of payments in arrears.
“In addition, we are considering proposals to provide grants to develop projects within their nurseries. This could be funding for additional resources or improvements to outdoor spaces.”
Councillor Margaret Brisley, vice convener of the Children and Young People Committee said: “This is an exciting time of transitional change in Stirling as phase one of the early learning and childcare expansion gets underway.
“Through working with partners in the private sector, we are providing a flexible model of provision which is tailored to the different needs of children, families and communities.”
Phase One of the early learning and childcare expansion started in August 2018 and will be followed by phase two in August 2019 and phase three in August 2020.
Private partner nurseries and childminders will be included in each phase of the roll out and will be key partners in Stirling Council’s expansion of early learning and childcare.
Backed by £7million of capital investment support and £11.8M of revenue support, the Council has started phase one of the delivery of the Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion programme.
The work 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.
From August 2018, five local authority nurseries, two private nurseries and 13 childminders in the Bannockburn and McLaren areas of Stirling started offering the service to families as part of the first phase of a three-year roll out.
The expansion of early learning and childcare is part of a Scottish Government policy to provide 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.
The policy is 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.
Red Kite Community Nursery in Doune is one of the private partner nurseries in phase one of the early learning and childcare expansion in Stirling.
Tracey Stewart, Red Kite’s manager said: “The increase in funding means we can open full days instead of just mornings and this has been great for our families.
“We are a small community-based nursery, providing childcare to local families for over 20 years. The extended opening times have been well received by our parents and we have seen an increase in the number of children using us.”
Along with increasing staff numbers through government funding, Stirling Council’s plans for the early learning and childcare expansion involves working closely with partner providers in the private sector to support them in the increase of free childcare hours.
Councillor Susan McGill, convenor of the Council’s Children and Young People Committee, said: “We are working with partners to put together a package of support which includes funded training opportunities for their staff, a significant increase in the hourly rate we pay them to deliver the service, and a dedicated quality improvement officer to support them with the expansion.
“Many of our partners are childminders and small businesses who rely on fast payments to support their cash flow. To help with this, we have put in place a system of speedy and advanced payments in place of payments in arrears.
“In addition, we are considering proposals to provide grants to develop projects within their nurseries. This could be funding for additional resources or improvements to outdoor spaces.”
Councillor Margaret Brisley, vice convener of the Children and Young People Committee said: “This is an exciting time of transitional change in Stirling as phase one of the early learning and childcare expansion gets underway.
“Through working with partners in the private sector, we are providing a flexible model of provision which is tailored to the different needs of children, families and communities.”
Phase One of the early learning and childcare expansion started in August 2018 and will be followed by phase two in August 2019 and phase three in August 2020.
Private partner nurseries and childminders will be included in each phase of the roll out and will be key partners in Stirling Council’s expansion of early learning and childcare.
Backed by £7million of capital investment support and £11.8M of revenue support, the Council has started phase one of the delivery of the Scottish Government’s Early Learning and Childcare Expansion programme.
The work 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.
From August 2018, five local authority nurseries, two private nurseries and 13 childminders in the Bannockburn and McLaren areas of Stirling started offering the service to families as part of the first phase of a three-year roll out.
The expansion of early learning and childcare is part of a Scottish Government policy to provide 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.
The policy is 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.
Red Kite Community Nursery in Doune is one of the private partner nurseries in phase one of the early learning and childcare expansion in Stirling.
Tracey Stewart, Red Kite’s manager said: “The increase in funding means we can open full days instead of just mornings and this has been great for our families.
“We are a small community-based nursery, providing childcare to local families for over 20 years. The extended opening times have been well received by our parents and we have seen an increase in the number of children using us.”
Along with increasing staff numbers through government funding, Stirling Council’s plans for the early learning and childcare expansion involves working closely with partner providers in the private sector to support them in the increase of free childcare hours.
Councillor Susan McGill, convenor of the Council’s Children and Young People Committee, said: “We are working with partners to put together a package of support which includes funded training opportunities for their staff, a significant increase in the hourly rate we pay them to deliver the service, and a dedicated quality improvement officer to support them with the expansion.
“Many of our partners are childminders and small businesses who rely on fast payments to support their cash flow. To help with this, we have put in place a system of speedy and advanced payments in place of payments in arrears.
“In addition, we are considering proposals to provide grants to develop projects within their nurseries. This could be funding for additional resources or improvements to outdoor spaces.”
Councillor Margaret Brisley, vice convener of the Children and Young People Committee said: “This is an exciting time of transitional change in Stirling as phase one of the early learning and childcare expansion gets underway.
“Through working with partners in the private sector, we are providing a flexible model of provision which is tailored to the different needs of children, families and communities.”
Phase One of the early learning and childcare expansion started in August 2018 and will be followed by phase two in August 2019 and phase three in August 2020.
Private partner nurseries and childminders will be included in each phase of the roll out and will be key partners in Stirling Council’s expansion of early learning and childcare.