Perthshire parents have been shocked to learn that some of their after-school clubs are facing closure.
Letters from Perth and Kinross Council have been sent home to parents outlining the local authority’s intention to shut or reduce after-school childcare.
Parents have slammed the plan, saying it would leave them “struggling” to organise childcare come the school bell.
Proposed closures include the clubs in Abernethy, Birnam and Dunkeld, Blackford, Coupar Angus, Craigie/Moncrieffe, Crieff, Comrie, Errol, Longforgan and Pitlochry.
The Bridge of Earn Village Kids Club would only run in term times and the breakfast club would be shut. Scone and Invergowrie clubs would be reduced to term time only and Milnathort would cease to pick up from Portmoak.
Blairgowrie Kids Club would lose one play assistant and cut supervisor hours to 20 during term time and 37 in the holidays.
Parents at Longforgan Primary School, which is having its after-school service withdrawn by the council, have spoken of their dilemma.
Freddie Warden (44) said, “We are panicking. It’s going to be a real blow. We will struggle and we will do all we can to help keep it open.”
Jez Wardman (49), a landscape gardener from Longforgan, said, “It will affect us quite a lot. We use it two or three times a week and we rely on it in the holidays.
“I heard last night the council are going to charge £30 to rent the school per hour. It makes it totally unviable.”
Changes will come into force from July 1 and the council has promised to help parents arrange alternative childcare. One option being mooted is parents organising or running their own after-school service, as happens in Dundee through the parent committees. School premises could then be rented from the council once the teachers have gone home.
The council spokesman said, “If an alternative care provider wished to use a school premises then normal letting arrangements would apply, including charges.”
There had been a review to identify some of the clubs not used enough to justify the subsidy from the education department.
The council confirmed some holiday clubs will be reduced and some stopped altogether.