Council on track to deliver government’s childcare pledge

Fife Council says it is on track to deliver the Scottish Government’s pledge of 1,140 hours of funded childcare.

From August next year, all three and four-year-olds, and eligible two-year-olds, will be entitled to around 30 hours of funded childcare a week during term time – double the current entitlement of 600 hours per year.

To accommodate the increased hours, work has started to extend and refurbish some existing nurseries, as well as creating new accommodation.

There are also more private and voluntary sector nurseries and childminders forming partnerships with the council to offer more choice and flexibility.

To address the need for more staff, the council said 160 new recruits had been taken on through the early years apprenticeship programme since August 2016, and another 25 apprentices are due to start in October 2019.

Fay Sinclair, the SNP convener of the education and children’s services committee, said: “I’m pleased to hear work is progressing and that we’re on track to be able to provide the increase in early learning and childcare, to 1,140 hours, for eligible children.

“An increase in the free hours will give parents flexibility and access to high-quality care for their children in a way that best suits their family.”

Councillors on the committee also agreed to adjust the early learning and childcare policy to reflect the government’s “funding follows the child” approach.

This approach enables parents and carers to access their child’s funded entitlement from any provider that meets the new national standard.