Councillors have admitted there will be “winners and losers” in the north as it emerged the near-doubling of childcare entitlement being rolled out to just six schools and education centres in a pilot scheme two years before everywhere else.
Councillor Bet McAllister, who saw three institutes in her Inverness constituency benefit from funding towards a pilot scheme, admitted: “There will be winners and losers at the start of this initiative, which is a shame for those that missed out.”
However, she was delighted children – and their parents – at Merkinch Primary, Merkich Family Centre and the area’s Fliperz Day Care Centre will benefit from the phased expansion of early learning and childcare provision, which is trialling from next term in August.
The Scottish Government has committed to the near-doubling of entitlement to funded care to 1140 hours a year by 2020 for all three and four-year olds and eligible two-year olds – resulting in six hours a day during term time.
The others to benefit in the pilot are Obsdale Nursery at Alness, Kyle Primary and Lochaber Gaelic School.
Inverness Central Councillor Bet McAllister said: “The pilot scheme is aimed at those that are in most need of extra care, and it will enable many parents in these more deprived areas get into employment.
“I am sorry for those who are missing out, but the funding is only available for a number of schools and nurseries until 2020.
“Hopefully this will help improve the needs of the children and their parents in the areas involved.”
Education director Bill Alexander said: “By 2020, Highland Council will receive around £26.5m to almost double the number of funded hours of early learning and childcare.
“It will enable parents to take up work or undertake training, and will support the development and learning of children, assisting with closing the attainment gap.”
He added: “The funding begins to increase this year, and there is around £1m to deliver additional hours, plus funding for graduate staffing and some other aspects of the service.
“The Government has been clear that the initial developments should benefit those children who will benefit most from the additional hours, which means providing the service in areas of disadvantage – whether they be rural or urban.
“Earlier this year, members agreed that this should include centres across the authority, where there is space and capacity, and where families were unlikely to seek to transfer children from existing provision, thereby making that less viable.
“The level of funding in 2018/19 determined that around six centres could move to 1140 hours this year.
“Merkinch is the Highland Council community with the greatest number of children who experience disadvantage, and there are three centres within Merkinch.
“Seeking a spread of provision across the council area, and on the basis of the other criteria, Kyle, Obsdale and Bun-sgoil Ghaidhlig Loch Abar were also identified.”
