Council proposing to increase number of early learning hours

Perth and Kinross Council is aiming to increase the number of hours of learning for nursery school children, as part of new Scottish Government guidelines.

If approved, the move will see the present entitlement of 600 hours – which equates to 16 hours during term time – increased to 1,140 hours.

The rise will be introduced on a phased basis and will lead to a “significant” increase in staff employed by the council’s early learning and childcare (ELC) service.

A report drawn up by Jacquie Clow, service manager for early years and primary with Perth and Kinross Council, says the increase in staff could be achieved by extending existing contracts, as well as recruitment campaigns, modern apprenticeships and the Training Pathways scheme run through Perth College UHI.

Ms Clow also says the local authority’s education and children’s services’ Men in Childcare training initiative will be scaled up to address the under representation of males in the ELC sector.

Her report says: “The draft early learning and childcare expansion plan requires to be submitted to the Scottish Government by September 29. It articulates the planned delivery models of 1,140 hours ELC in Perth and Kinross and ensures there is a range of options for parents and carers to access-funded ELC in the area.”

A council spokesperson said: “As with the current system, parents will be able to choose how they access the hours – whether they send their child to the local council nursery for the sessions which are available to add up to the total hours, or use the funding to buy sessions from private sector companies.”