200 kids supported at activity centres
Organisers had just three days to get established
Perth and Kinross Council’s five children’s activity centres (CACs) are now looking after more than 200 children every day.
And more could open if the demand is there.
The CACs are helping key workers carry out their vital duties in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Around 40 per cent of children currently attending CACs come from lone-parent families, even though they make up just four per cent of the normal school population.
The Scottish Government announced on March 18 that schools would close 48 hours later in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.
That gave local authorities just a few days to ensure that learning could take place at home for all children and young people, and put childcare arrangements in place for key workers.
Care is also provided through partner provider nurseries and accredited childminders.
Bernadette Martin-Scott, Perth and Kinross Council’s early years and childcare service manager, said: “Once news came that the schools were to close, we immediately put in a process to survey critical key workers, and once that information was collated, we had three days to get organised.
“Our priorities were ensuring that we had CACs opened where applications showed parents of key workers needed them the most.
“The early learning and childcare service are a skilled team, so it was a priority to utilise their skills in each hub.
“In the three days we had to plan, we ensured that we galvanised staff and resources so that we were ready to start well on the first day.
“We worked closely with other relevant teams across PKC so that our staff had a clear understanding of what we hoped to achieve for the children attending.”
Staff also had to ensure they operate while adhering to social distancing guidelines.
Ms Martin-Scott added: “This is all new to all of us so although we had guidance there has been new learning every day.
“Our ratios are one staff member to four children so we have 10 staff in each hub with maximum of 40 children attending in any day.
“Each centre has completed a risk assessment that is tailored to that building and so staff utilise the spaces across each hub to ensure that social distancing is in place.
“All staff have taken social distancing and infection control procedures very seriously.
“I cannot thank the staff enough, they have been motivated and enthusiastic from the outset, understanding the importance of the job in hand.
“The majority of staff involved are from the early learning and childcare service with support from teachers, early childhood practitioners and pupil support assistants.”
The CACs have also won the support of the parents and children who use them.
Ms Martin-Scott said: “Parents have been very positive about the provision of childcare whether it be through childminding, partner nurseries or children activity centres.
“The children in our care have enjoyed the activities provided. Our main aim over the last few weeks was to ensure that children felt comfortable and confident in what was potentially a new environment for them.
“We are now working to increase the learning offer in each hub as we appreciate that this would support parents working long shifts.”
The local authority is processing new applications every day.