Council under fire for forcing parents to pay for childcare
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HIGHLAND Council is under fire for forcing parents to pay for childcare, despite being given a £30 million pot to provide the services free.
The authority claimed it was following guidance from the Scottish Government, which gave it the cash, but that was denied by the minister for children and young people, Maree Todd.
Earlier this month the council confirmed it had paused the roll-out of the scheme because of its financial woes, saying it would be too expensive to introduce.
It has now emerged that those families who have already claimed the allocation of 600 free hours must now pay £4.30 an hour and £2.30 for meals if they want to get additional childcare.
A review is under way after Caithness councillor Andrew Sinclair forced the move to assess where the 1140 hours of free childcare could be rolled out at the education committee on August 6.
Now Ms Todd – who is aiming to replace Gail Ross as far north MSP after she stands downs – has rejected claims by the council’s finance boss Liz Denovan, who said the money is needed elsewhere in education and that they were following government guidance.
Ms Todd said: “The Scottish Government, jointly with Cosla [Convention of Scottish Local Authorities], has been clear that, where possible, councils should continue to bring forward their 1140 hours expansion. We have not advised councils to pause the roll-out of 1140.
“While we have offered some flexibility to use that funding to deliver critical provision for children and families, this funding is not provided to support other parts of councils’ budgets.
“Where councils have the places available to offer fully funded 1140 hours to some or all children, we expect them to do so using the funding we’ve provided this year.
“This will ensure families and communities can realise the benefits as quickly as possible, and without having to meet some of the costs. I will be asking the council for more details on why they are now choosing to charge parents for this.”
Councillor Sinclair said: “It is quite clear that there’s something very wrong here. Highland Council has been lagging far behind many other council areas when it comes to the full-time childcare roll-out.
“Councillors have been presented with numerous reasons as to why this council hasn’t been able to move as quickly as others, but none of these arguments now feels particularly convincing and I think we’ve now reached a point where many councillors are fed up with all the bureaucracy and delay.
“The perception is that this council has been slow to act, much to the detriment of parents and children in the area.
“I know that councillors here in Wick have been contacted by a local provider who has invested a significant amount of time and resources in expanding their childcare provision in order to provide an 1140 hours service – they’re ready and eager to get started.
“It’s very frustrating that right now we have parents who are keen to get back to work, or are looking to take up employment, yet they’re being held back by the lack of childcare options available to them locally.
“Given the socio-economic dynamics we face, with Wick having some of the highest levels of deprivation in the whole region, this is a totally unacceptable situation for parents to be faced with. It’s essential that parents in the town have access to comprehensive childcare when they need it.
“The money for an 1140 hours service is there, waiting to be put to use. A good dose of common sense from the council could easily rectify this whole situation.
“My amendment means a review will be brought to the next education committee, outlining exactly which external providers are ready to deliver an 1140 service.
“Once we know, once and for all, exactly which providers are in this category then there’s no reason why this council should continue to drag its feet. Then parents and children will finally have access to the childcare they’re so desperately calling out for.”
