Childcaretprojectt hittbytCovidtdelay
NorthtLanarkshiretCouncilthast confirmedtitstprogrammettotexpandt earlytyearsteducationthastbeent derailedtbytthetcoronavirust pandemic.
Beforetlockdown,tthetlocalt authoritythadtbeentonttrackttot delivertthetScottishtGovernment’st policytoftprovidingt1140thourstoft nurserytortchildcarettoteveryteligiblet childtintthetarea.
However,tthetlockdownt meanttprogresstontthetthetnecessaryt constructiontgroundttotathaltandtthet updatingtoftbuildingstpluststafft recruitmenttslowedtortstoppedt entirely.tAtcounciltspokesmantsaid:t “Wethavetmadetverytpositivet progressttowardstthet implementationtoft1140thourstandt wetweretonttrackttotprovidet additionalthigh-qualitytearlyt learningtandtchildcaretfortourtyoungt childrentfromtAugustt2020.
“ThetScottishtGovernmentt removedtthetstatutorytdutytontlocalt authoritiesttotcarrytoutt1140thours’t expansiontplanstduettotcoronavirust healthtcrisistandttotallowtatfocustont providingtessentialtchildcaretfortkeyt workers.
“Thethealthtemergencytandt consequenttmeasurestputtintplacet havethadtantimpacttontthetdeliverytoft thet1140thours’tprogrammetsuchtastat delaytintthetconstructiontworktatt sometnew-buildtfacilities,tsomet recruitmenttprogrammestandtontthet numbertoftchildrentbeingtcaredtfort withintearlytlearningtandtchildcaret settingstduettotthetreductiontintstafft totchildrentratios.
“Thetsafetytoftourtchildrentandt stafftistatprioritytfortustandtduettotthis,t wetcannottreasonablytassesstwhent thetfulltdeliveryt(1140thours)tmaytbet achievabletintthetshort-termtuntiltthet subsequenttimpacttoftpandemictist clear.
“Wetaretworkingtthrought placementtapplicationstandtexpectt totnotifytparentstandtcarerstnextt week.”