Families in far north areas encouraged to complete Highland Council ELC survey

Families in Caithness and north-west Sutherland are being invited to complete a Highland Council consultation on early learning and childcare (ELC) services in the north.

The council appeal is specifically targeted at residents in the areas of Lairg, Dornoch, Golspie, Farr, Scourie, Durness, Kinlochbervie, Tongue, Wick and Thurso.

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The consultation survey is carried out every two years to help the council get a better idea of families’ ELC needs, by area.

It includes questions for families who are currently using ELC, have used ELC in the past or are not currently using any ELC services.

The survey is open until Wednesday, July 31, 2024, and can be filled out here.

Education committee chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: “Our ELC staff and service value feedback from people who currently use ELC provision in the north, may use in the future or have used in the past to contribute to the consultation.

“This enables a wide range of feedback and data to be gathered that helps us better understand the requirements on an area by area basis.

“We understand that certain areas across Highland experience different ELC challenges and needs at varying times, and by carrying out the consultation every two years it allows us to capture those changes and identify patterns which in turn informs our ELC service delivery.

“The consultation will be rolled out to other areas of Highland over the coming months.”

Funded ELC provision is free to parents, funded by the Scottish Government.

If your child is three or four years old, or two years old, dependant on eligibility criteria, you could be entitled to up to 1140 hours of funded ELC a year (around 30 hours a week in term time or 23 hours a week over the whole year).

Funding is available from the term after your child turns three (August, January or April) and depending on their start date (if not starting in August) they will get pro-rata hours.

For more information on education and learning across Highland, visit the Highland Council website here.

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