Childcare help for key staff
Spring break offer for workers
Stirling Council will continue offering childcare for essential workers involved in the current national emergency during the Spring Break - with another facility opening for under-3s.
Childcare hubs in five locations – Callander, Cowie, Dunblane, Killearn and St Ninians - have been operational since Monday, 23 March, providing care for more than 300 children.
As of this week, these were joined by a new hub at the nursery within Raploch Community Campus, which will support families with children under the age of three.
Parents and carers who are categorised as essential workers and require childcare for this age-group can make a request via Stirling Council’s website.
Essential workers who have applied for childcare and have not been contacted can phone the hub in the location they applied for: Callander – McLaren High School (01786 237973); Cowie – St Margaret’s Primary School (01786 237954); Killearn – Killearn Primary School (01360 550025); St Ninians – St Ninians Primary School (01786 237975); and Dunblane – Dunblane Primary School (01786 822351).
Children and young people convener
Councillor Susan McGill said: “We are maintaining this offer of childcare during the upcoming holiday period as it’s likely essential workers will continue to need this support during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s also important we recognise this wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated staff volunteering to work in the hubs over the holidays, and we would like to thank them again for their outstanding efforts throughout this unprecedented situation.”
The delivery of free school meals will also continue during the upcoming holidays, with the latest schedule and criteria available on the council website.
Remote Learning and flexible education, however, will not continue during the holidays. Leadership teams will stay in contact with some children who need additional support during this time.
A dedicated telephone advice line and email enquiry service for those seeking advice about children and young people’s support needs, learning and well-being is up and running. Online resources on these matters are also available, along with information on child protection in the current situation.
These can all be accessed on the council’s Coronavirus Education Updates page.