Agenda item

Consider report by Service Director for Children and Young people.  (Copy attached.)

          There had been circulated copies of a report by the Depute Chief Executive (People) which described the review undertaken to develop a revised Out of School Care Policy.   The review had recommended enhanced governance arrangements for the Vulnerable Out of School Care Grants Scheme.  The report explained that there were 37 Out of School Care providers operating across the Scottish Borders, which were provided by a range of voluntary and private sector organisations who operated from a mixture of Scottish Borders Council (SBC), community and privately-owned facilities. Out of School Care providers supplemented the core universal school activities provided in communities whilst providing a valuable service for families.  The majority operated as voluntary organisations with opening hours to meet the requirements of local families whilst aligning with the constraints of the business and provided care before and after school, with some also providing wraparound and holiday/in service care.   SBC provided financial support to Out of School Care providers through subsidised rent arrangements for some Out of School Care providers who operated from SBC premises and the Vulnerable Out of School Care Grant Scheme was in place to assist Out of School Care providers who met specific criteria.  A number of organisations who were based within SBC premises provided Early Learning and Childcare as well as Out of School Care.  The Early Years Team within SBC provided support to the Out of School Care providers with the aim of improving the quality of care across the Scottish Borders.  This might be in the form of practical support ranging from establishing new Out of School Care provision, setting up a management committee through to provision of training and practice development.  The existing Out of School Care in the Scottish Borders Policy had been approved in November 2010 and outlined SBC’s commitment to work with all Out of School Care providers to develop their services and achieve financial sustainability.  The policy established principles which were applied consistently when working with all Out of School Care providers in the Scottish Borders.  To further assure consistency of application, a review of the 2010 Policy had been undertaken. The report detailed the main conclusions and highlighted that further clarity on rental arrangements for providers and access to the Vulnerable Grants Scheme was required.  Questions were raised in relation to how many of the 37 provides used facilities outwith Council ownership as it was considered that they were at a greater disadvantage.  The somewhat onerous requirements of the Care Commission in relation to provision, particularly for early years, were also raised. With regard to the Grant Scheme, the inclusion of the requirement not to have any outstanding debt to the Council was raised.  It was suggested that this may unfairly discriminate against those providers who might only have a small debt but that debt was to the Council against those providers who had a large debt but not to the Council.  It was agreed that the panel would need an element of flexibility in such cases.  It was noted that the transfer of facilities to the Culture Trust might have implications for some providers, including private providers and it was agreed that this would be brought to Committee for future discussion if required.

         DECISION

            APPROVED:-

(a)      the revised SBC Out of School Care Policy (2015), subject to the amendments detailed above; and

(b)     the implementation of a decision making panel to assess applications to the  

 Vulnerable Out of School Care Grants Scheme.