Council welcomes schools early learning and childcare expansion trial for region
Bun-sgoil Ghaidhlig Loch Abar (BSGL) and Kyle Primary School nursery are two of six Highland schools which will see the trial expansion of early learning and childcare in a move welcomed by members of Highland Council’s Care, Learning and Housing Committee last week.
The aim of the expansion is to provide high quality, flexible early learning and childcare that is accessible and affordable for families.
The Scottish Government is committed to nearly doubling the entitlement of funded early learning and childcare (ELC) to 1,140 hours a year by 2020 for all three-and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds.
Highland Council, as part of this phased expansion, is trialling 1,140 hours from August in the six centres.
As well as Bun-sgoil Ghaidhlig Loch Abar (BSGL) at Caol, and Kyle Primary, the others are Merkinch Primary School Nursery, Merkinch Family Centre, Fliperz Day Care Centre and Obsdale Primary School.
Councillor Andrew Baxter, Chair of the Care, Learning and Housing Committee, as well as Lochaber Area Committee, said expanding early learning and childcare provision supports the council’s programme commitment to ‘provide services that support all our children to have the best start in life’.
Mr Baxter added: ‘This is great news for children, parents and families in the trial centre communities. In addition to improving early learning it also enable parents and carers to get back into the work place hence boosting our local economies.
‘Members will be asked to consider more centres throughout the Highlands moving to 1,140 hours in August 2019 based on the level of funding Highland received from the Scottish Government next year.’
Councillors welcomed the multi-year funding allocations to deliver the expansion of 1,140 hours by 2020, of £26.469m recurring funding for service delivery and funding of £32.590m to enable capital works to go ahead.
Bill Alexander, director of Care and Learning, commented: ‘This is a welcome development, of great benefit to children and families. It will enable the council to support the development and learning of children and assist with closing the attainment gap.
‘The funding will also be used to employ graduate staff to provide additional support to children in nurseries in areas of deprivation.’