Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

Early Years and Childcare: Expansion to 1140 Hours

Consider report by Service Director, Children and Young People.  (Copy attached.)

Minutes:

EARLY YEARS AND CHILDCARE: EXPANSION TO 1140 HOURS

With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of 21 March 2017, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director, Children and Young People which sought approval of the Service Delivery and Implementation Plan (SDP) relating to the proposed expansion of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) for all three and four years and eligible two year olds from 600 hours to 1140 hours per year to communities across the Scottish Borders by the end of the parliamentary session 2020 (financial year 2020/21).  The report explained that following Scottish Government Guidance, the Council’s approach was Provider Neutral and would be in support of a Funding Follows the Child rationale, prioritising settings that were best placed to deliver quality outcomes for children and supporting the Council’s ambition to close the poverty related attainment gap and support parents into employment, training or study.  Parents would be able to choose locally from a range of ELC settings and providers where they wished their child to access their funded hours from within the context of a best value approach.  The report specifically provided information on the rationale of the SDP and its contents; taking account of the key principles as outlined in ‘A Blueprint for 2020: The Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland’ and was underpinned by clear guiding principles of Quality, Flexibility, Affordability and Accessibility.  The SDP built upon the recommendations in a previous report relating to earlier phases of the ELC expansion of hours, the strategic approach to delivery and the identified communities now offering an 1140 ELC entitlement.  Learning from the initial phases of the ELC expansion of hours was invaluable.  The Service Director Children and Young People explained that this was a fantastic opportunity, with lots of ongoing and high quality preparation work taking place, it was provider neutral and offered blended opportunities, which would  benefit childminders and partner providers.  The challenges and next steps were highlighted.  Members welcomed the flexible approach which would try to accommodate parental requirements.  The focus on vulnerable families was also noted.

 

DECISION

(a)        APPROVED the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Service Delivery and Implementation Plan, associated project work and financial commitments at this stage;

 

(b)       NOTED;-

 

(i)         the complexities and associated risks of planning for the expansion of Early Learning and Childcare; and

 

(ii)        that the draft Early Learning and Childcare Service Delivery and Implementation Plan  had been submitted to the Scottish Government, subject to Council approval, a one-to-one officer session with the Scottish Government Delivery Team would be held with the Local Authority in November 2017, to which any specific points could be raised.

 

(c)        AGREED that an update on the progress of the SDP be brought back to the Executive in January 2018, including specific detail of what the ELC expansion would look like in communities in school session 2018/2019, including detail of capital projects.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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