7
There was submitted a report by the Director of Children’s Services relative to the implementation by local authorities of the Scottish Government’s commitment to increase the entitlement to free early learning and childcare from the present level of 600 hours to 1140 hours per annum by 2020.
The report intimated that the Scottish Government had indicated that local authorities should explore opportunities for the expansion of free early learning and childcare entitlement on a phased basis over the next three years rather than waiting until 2020 to deliver. Local authorities were required to present an expansion plan on how they would achieve the delivery of the increased entitlement to the Scottish Government by 29 September 2017.
The report detailed the work undertaken by the Council’s 1140 Hours Governance Board to develop the Renfrewshire Expansion Plan, highlighting three key work stream areas as workforce, infrastructure and policy. Priority for the expansion programme would be given to establishments with high numbers of children from Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) areas 1 and 2 and the report set out a proposed amended admissions policy to help achieve this objective.
DECIDED:
(a)
That the draft Renfrewshire Expansion Plan be submitted by the Head of Early Years and Inclusion to the Scottish Government by 29 September 2017 and that the plan be approved by the Board at its meeting in November 2017;
(b)
That the admissions criteria for allocating 1140 hours of early learning and childcare to children attending establishments involved in the phasing of the entitlement, as outlined in the report be approved;
(c)
That the change of job title for early years staff as detailed in the report be noted; and
(d)
That the change of name of Pre-Five Centres to Early Learning and Childcare Centres and classes as detailed in the report be approved.