Key workers say council failed over childcare

Parents claim Highland Perthshire hub to look after children is too little, too late

Council chiefs have been accused of failing key workers in Highland Perthshire, following the “late” launch of the area’s first childcare hub.

After schools closed in March, five campuses were re-opened to look after the children of frontline workers across Perth and Kinross.

A sixth centre has been opened at Breadalbane Academy, staffed for four days a week by childminders and nursery staff.

The local authority said it was in response to growing demand for childcare spaces.

However, parents say the new hub is “too little too late”, coming about a month after the first five hubs were set up.

A spokeswoman for the Breadalbane Parent Council said: “We are sorry to report that the incredible key worker parents of Breadalbane Academy have been let down by the council.

“The council failed to inform these parents on the initial decision not to have a hub, there was continued insufficient communication and child care support for these parents.”

She said: “The council was very slow to provide alternatives and one parent has told the parent council that the decision now is too little too late.

“I wish that we could report a more positive story but, despite the school’s hard work to support all parents, the majority of key worker parents feel the council have failed Highland Perthshire.”

A council spokesman responded: “Childcare provision in Perth and Kinross has been led by demand since schools closed.”

He said a survey to determine the need in Highland Perthshire found only “a very small number of children” required childcare.

“Other methods such as placing the child with a childminder or in a partner provider nursery were offered to parents.

“Some parents in Highland Perthshire declined offers of childminder provision or in-home support while others wanted to use Children’s Activity Centres in other areas closer to their place of work.”

He added: “The decision to create a Children’s Activity Centre at Breadalbane was taken after the range of key workers eligible for childcare was expanded, and it was anticipated that an increase in demand for places might be needed in Highland Perthshire.”

A seventh hub will open at Tulloch Primary School next week.

“

One parent has told the parent council that the decision now is too little too late.

BREADALBANE PARENT COUNCIL SPOKESWOMAN

A sixth childcare centre has been opened at Breadalbane Academy.