Putting a price on childcare packages

West Lothian Council’s executive has agreed procurement arrangements for £ 3.5m a year to tender for early years childcare provision as the new plan to provide 1140 care hours takes shape.

The plan is to create a three-year framework with an option to extend to a fourth, costing £14m in total for four years.

The new money will come into play from August next year, when current funding expires. Local authorities are to provide 1140 free hours of early learning and childcare from 2020 Scottish Government money paying for the expansion.

The Scottish Government has set out a national standard which all providers who wish to deliver the funded entitlement will have to meet.

A report to committee said: “This will provide reassurance to parents and carers that any provider offering the funded hours can offer their child a high-quality early learning and childcare experience.”

Parents and carers should be able to access their child’s funded entitlement from any provider that meets the new national standard, where they have a place available and are willing to enter into a contract with the local authority.

The Scottish Government has determined that the rate for funded ELC placements is to be set locally.

Consultation is being undertaken with partner providers in relation to the rate for 2020 and once set it will be stipulated within the tender documents.

The revised rate will include funding to provide a free meal for all children with a funded placement and enable partner providers to pay the national living wage (£9.30 per hour) to staff providing direct care to children in funded placements both requirements of the national standard.