Council looks to ELC roll-out in October
Perth and Kinross Council plans to have a complete roll-out of 1140 hours of early learning and childcare (ELC) by the October holidays.
At present, 92 per cent of PKC’s funded providers have managed to provide 1140 hours of early learning and childcare.
Plans for the extended hours were paused by the Scottish Government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the pandemic, the Scottish Government had asked all Scotland’s councils to deliver the increased entitlement (from 600 hours to 1140 hours) for all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds, from August 2020.
On Wednesday August 26 PKC’s executive director of education and children’s services Sheena Devlin told PKC’s lifelong learning committee “good progress” was being made.
Ms Devlin told the committee: “Due to the good progress made towards the expansion of ELC provision prior to lockdown, Perth and Kinross Council is ready to move and is on track to meet the requirements to deliver 1140 hours of ELC as and when the Scottish Government reinstates the legal requirement to do so.
“It is important to note that at this time 92 per cent of all funded providers are now offering 1140 hours and the others are working over this term to do so as soon as possible.”
Head of education and learning Sharon Johnston said delivery in some settings had been delayed by building work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The head of education added: “But they will be able to deliver 1140 hours by the end of this term so by the October break we expect all of our settings will be delivering 1140 hours.”
The report said infrastructure works at Coupar Angus, Inchture, Letham, Longforgan, Oakbank, Newhill, Rattray and St Ninian’s primary schools had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Work to expand ELC provision began in 2017. It started both within PKC’s own settings and with funded providers including private nurseries, not for profit organisations and childminders. The aim of the scheme is to make available highquality, flexible ELC that is accessible and affordable for all families.
Lifelong learning convener,
Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers said: “From the outset, we have sought to plan thoroughly and effectively for delivering increased early learning and childcare provision in Perth and Kinross.
“The update before the committee reflects the very wide-ranging work undertaken to achieve this, and the positive impact that this has had on access to high-quality, affordable ELC, even with the added complexities of the coronavirus pandemic.”
Vice convener Conservative councillor John Duff said: “Like so many things, the pandemic has caused delay to the full implementation of the scheme.
“Knowing that, it makes it all the more impressive that within Perth and Kinross there is a significant capacity of high standard partner providers, childminders and local authority provision recruited, ready, willing and able to deliver on the 1140 hours of childcare right now.
“I welcome the introduction of the community childminding model and the enhanced training of specialist childminders for children with complex needs, additional support needs and other vulnerabilities.
“I also welcome the training programmes for the modern apprentices and men in childcare, together with the other training, development and career progression programmes, all of which are proving to be very successful.
“While a small number of infrastructure works have slipped as a result of COVID-19, the council is well positioned to deliver these projects relatively quickly and has contingency plans in place where required.”
He added: “I am pleased to note that the infrastructure works at Logierait within my own ward have commenced over the summer in line with the planned timescales.”