Dundee City Council has confirmed it has expanded free childcare in the city despite the Scottish Government delaying the policy because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a report due to go before the children and families services committee next week, council officers outlined that all three and four-year-olds and eligible two-year-olds in the city can now receive free early learning and childcare (ELC) to 1140 hours per year.
This is an increase on the 600 hours that local authorities across Scotland are currently legally obliged to provide.
Plans by the Scottish Government to increase the amount of free early years learning youngsters receive were originally announced in 2017 and all local authorities had been due to implement the expansion by August 2020.
“I am sure that families are enjoying the benefits that the expansion is bringing to their children and I hope to see the impact it makes becoming apparent in the years ahead.”
Children and families services committee convener, Stewart Hunter
However due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the legal obligation for councils to deliver the expansion has been delayed for at least a year.
The children and families services committee report also detailed how DCC are planning on recruiting additional staff in order to deliver the expansion.
These include centre managers, nursery teachers and early years educators and the recruitment process is expected to begin in December.
Speaking on the expansion, committee convener councillor Stewart Hunter said: “The expansion of ELC entitlement is designed to help improve the education of our children while also tackling the effects of poverty.
“We have been carefully trialling the expansion over the last couple of years and to now deliver for all eligible children in the climate of the current health emergency is quite outstanding.
“Our nurseries are receiving impressive inspection reports, and we are recruiting and training a workforce with the skills to enable very young children to make the best possible start to their life of learning.
“We are also in the midst of a building programme that is providing new buildings and refurbishments to create fantastic environments for the delivery of ELC.
“I am sure that families are enjoying the benefits that the expansion is bringing to their children and I hope to see the impact it makes becoming apparent in the years ahead.”
