• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Education

Thousands of staff needed to hit childcare expansion deadline

Thousands of staff needed to hit childcare expansion deadline
Newsexplored
3rd March 2020
5
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
2
Children take part in a science lesson at Tower View Nursery in GlasgowImage copyright Scottish government
Image caption Children take part in a science lesson at Tower View Nursery in Glasgow

A major recruitment drive is needed to ensure an expansion of funded nursery places is to hit its summer deadline, a spending watchdog has warned.

The national entitlement to free childcare will increase from 600 to 1,140 hours in August.

Audit Scotland said more than 4,000 nursery staff would need to be recruited and half the building work was not yet complete.

The Scottish government said it was confident the deadline would be met.

The expansion of free childcare is part of a “landmark” funding deal between the Scottish government and local authorities.

Councils, which have been given £567m to deliver the nursery pledge, have recruited the equivalent of 4,310 full-time staff – approximately half the number required.

In a review of progress, Audit Scotland said the plans were on track – but a great deal of work would need to be done over the summer months.

Caroline Gardner, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “The Scottish government and councils have worked well together to increase early learning and childcare hours, and we’ve also seen improvements in how the project will be evaluated.

“But the timeline remains tight and there are big risks around infrastructure and workforce.”

  • Parents in Scotland urged to apply for new free childcare plan

A phasing system was implemented last year giving approximately 50,000 children 1,140 hours of funded childcare ahead of the national rollout.

The Scottish government said by the end of the expansion, more than 900 nurseries will have been built, extended or refurbished since 2018.

data-ad-format="auto">
Image copyright Scottish government
Image caption Thousands more staff have been put in post in preparation for the new scheme

Children’s Minister Maree Todd said: “We are committed to delivering the roll-out from August and councils have contingency plans in place for all critical projects due to complete this summer, so we can be confident that the places will be there to deliver the expansion for Scotland’s children.

“The expansion also opens up more opportunities for playgroups, private and third sector nurseries, and childminders to be involved in delivering funded hours.”

The Scottish Conservative education spokesman Jamie Green said that necessary work had been “left to the last minute”.

He added: “The first minister promised the world to thousands of parents across Scotland when it came to free childcare. They will deliver a very damning verdict on her SNP government if this promise isn’t up-and-running on time.


“And what ministers seem to have forgotten through all of this is that good childcare isn’t just about the number of hours on offer, it’s the flexibility within that.”

Childcare timeline

In 2017 the Scottish government announced it would almost double its funded childcare as part of a plan to reduce health, education and employment inequalities later in life.

Audit Scotland later warned of a “significant risk” that local authorities would not be able to fund the expansion.

However, the government and Cosla reached an agreement two months later. It set out plans to spend £990m on day-to-day funding for the scheme by 2021 – £150m more than the government’s previous estimate.

Opposition politicians had previously warned of a £160m “black hole” in the funding proposals.

Funding will rise annually from £33m this financial year to £567m by 2021/22, totalling £1.5bn over five years.

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) produced research last year which found that 71% of employers struggled to recruit staff at practitioner level – and that Scotland’s nursery staff turnover rate was 29%, higher than the UK average.

It recommended the scheme be reviewed annually to ensure nurseries could cover the cost of the new offer as well as keeping staff.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemschildcaredeadlineexpansionneededstaffthousands
Education
3rd March 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemschildcaredeadlineexpansionneededstaffthousands

More in Education

  • Read More
    Covid-19: Last day of home-school is ‘end of an era’

    Views:2 By Kate ScotterBBC News, East image copyrightFamily photo image captionKatrin’s children Ada, Hazel and Remy are...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Wales plans wider school return from 15 March

    Views:2 Published 15 minutes ago Related Topics media captionCase rates and positivity rates are two of the...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Wales’ school return could start after half-term

    Views:2 image copyrightGetty Images image captionSchooling has moved to the home for most children since the start...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
  • Read More
    What’s the science behind closing schools?

    Views:2 By Will FyfeBBC News media captionDr Heather Payne says school drop off and pick-ups created “social...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Cancelled exams are a ‘big disappointment’

    Views:2 image captionJake did not want exams to be cancelled “It’s a big disappointment,” says 17-year-old Jake...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Hawaiian shirts and gravy: Christmas tributes for loved ones lost to Covid

    Views:2 Christmas is different for everyone this year but especially for the thousands of UK families who...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
  • Read More
    England ‘significant decline’ in global science tests

    Views:2 By Sean CoughlanBBC News family and education correspondent image copyrightTIMSS image captionThe maths and science tests...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Some students not back until February next term

    Views:2 By Sean CoughlanBBC News family and education correspondent image copyrightReuters image captionStudents have been taking Covid...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: How might GCSE and A-levels work this summer?

    Views:2 By Branwen JeffreysEducation Editor image copyrightGetty Images A-levels and GCSEs in England are due to go...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Special educational needs support ‘offered after exclusion’

    Views:2 By Kayleen DevlinBBC Ouch image copyrightEmily image captionEmily says she feels let down by the system...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Free school meals: Authors urge government action to stop child hunger

    Views:2 media captionMarcus Rashford and his mother Melanie helped out at FareShare Greater Manchester. More than 200...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Student anger over ‘junk’ food parcels in isolation

    Views:2 Image caption A student isolating in Nottingham was given bread, jam and an apple for breakfast...

    Newsexplored 3rd March 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Transfer rumours: Kounde, Haaland, Bremer, Neuhaus, Balogun, Ziyech, Raphinha
    Sports13th February 2021
  • Station reopening at Bow Street brings first trains for 56 years
    UK14th February 2021
  • Manchester United 3-3 Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores late goal to deny hosts
    Sports6th February 2021
  • Keeping the faith: Christian chaplains in the time of Covid
    UK7th February 2021
  • George Floyd death: How will jurors be selected in Derek Chauvin trial?
    USA8th March 2021
  • George Floyd trial: Why is it so important?
    USA7th March 2021
  • LeBron James: NBA superstar’s evolution from high school prodigy
    USA4th March 2021
  • What is Biden doing differently at US border?
    USA3rd March 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Coronavirus: Schools told no delays so far to exams
‘Heartless bereavement laws mean I don’t count’
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok