From today (Monday 31 Aug) all Early Learning and Childcare settings in Shetland will be delivering the 1140 hours offer, the key element of the Scottish Government’s expansion of funded early learning and childcare.
The Scottish Government had set out plans to ensure that all local authorities deliver the policy of increased hours from 600 to 1140 hours by August 2020. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the statutory requirement was put on hold. Shetland Islands Council has continued with the plans, to ensure that all families from across the isles can access the additional hours they requested during registration week in February 2020.
In line with Scottish Government advice, the expansion has been phased in over the last three years. The first settings to offer the additional hours were the nursery classes at Urafirth, Dunrossness and Whiteness, who moved to the expanded model in 2017. The final eight settings will come on board today, despite delays to the building programme.
Of all funded early learning and childcare placements in Shetland, 40% of families have opted to use their full 1140 hour per year entitlement. A further 43% have opted for some additional hours on top of their previous entitlement of 600 hours. Flexibility and choice is at the heart of this policy and parents and carers can choose their preferred provider, and can set a weekly pattern to suit their needs. There is the option of year round or term-time provision.
In addition to the Council’s settings, four private or voluntary sector providers, including Hame fae Hame and Peerie Foxes, and five childminders, are delivering the funded hours. Families have options of split placements between more than one provider and blended placements between a setting and a childminder.
Since 2016, the local Early Learning and Childcare workforce has increased by 40% and staff have been supported with development plans and training over the four year period.
Building projects to support the expansion have been delayed and will now be rescheduled. Without the increased capacity that the building works would have delivered, placements have been altered slightly in some instances to deliver the hours needed.
George Smith, Chair of the Council’s Education and Families Committee said: “Children’s Services staff have worked extremely hard to implement this Early Years and Childcare expansion in Shetland, on top of the challenges of the last few months. The high uptake of placements reflects how well this scheme has been received locally by parents and carers, and families will benefit significantly from this provision.”
The other eight settings that will provide the expanded hours of Early Learning and Childcare are in Aith, Lunnasting, Mid Yell, Skeld, Sandwick, Scalloway, Little Tikes – Tingwall, Whalsay.